almar: we throughout this ordeal have worked with the u.s.t to try to secure evans release. we generally don't comment on the nature of those conversations and the efforts happening, but sec. and those comments is absolutely right -- sec. blinken and those comments is absolutely right. there are 24/7 efforts taking place to secure his release and also look after the other americans who are held in wrongful detainment. that is about as far as i can go on this topic. amna: you have been in touch with evan's family as well. what can you tell us about how they are doing and whether or not they want to see a prisoner swap? almar: evan's family has been an inspiration throughout all of this. they are so strong in face of something that is obviously so emotional, so hurtful to them, to see their son in activity -- son in captivity and accused things he didn't do, and smeared again by the russian propaganda machine. in face of all that, they in my view are heroic. they are holding their head above water. of course they want to see their son released

. -- almar latour or. let's start with your reaction to the conviction and the sentence.e you expecting 16 years? >> two reactions really. we are appalled at the 16 year sentence. it's an insult on freight press and evan, it's terribly distressing and it's wrong because all of this is based on false charges, a sham trial and lies. manufactured lies. on the other hand, if you look at the history of autocratic regimes and particularly the one in russia, we know that there a very high chance for trials like these to end in a conviction and pretty heavy sentencing. we were expecting that to some degree, but it hits hard. amna: we saw him in the courtroom. his head has been shaved. how did he seem? >> shaved head is somewhat recent. it happened when he was moved to a new facility. he looks a little skinnier than i believe we have observed before. you can see that he is resilient , but the russian regime has really applied all the symbolism of making him look like someone who committed a crime. and so that's distressing to see him effectively dressed up like that, just absolute