Russian Ambassador Asks Rights Groups to Help Russian National Yaroshenko Jailed in US

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that "Mr. Yaroshenko suffers from numerous medical and dental problems, including post-traumatic mental health issues caused by the abuse" Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov has called on the largest human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, to provide medical and legal assistance to Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko jailed in the US. On Thursday, Antonov wrote an open letter to several human rights organizations in the US that was released by the Russian Embassy in Washington. "Mr. Yaroshenko applied three times for a prisoner transfer to Russia to serve the remainder of his sentence in Russia pursuant to Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. His requests were unreasonably denied," he added. Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, has asked prominent international human rights groups to help settle medical and legal issues facing Russian national Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year term in a US prison. "Your organisations are well-known for [their] noble mission to defend and preserve human rights. We urge you to review Mr Yaroshenko's case and provide any assistance for his medical and legal issues", Antonov said in an open letter to Amnesty International, Equal Justice Initiative, Human Rights Watch, The Marshall Project, ACLU National Prison Project, The Sentencing Project, Southern Poverty Law Center, and World Justice Project. Antonov characterised Yaroshenko's case as "clear entrapment" involving undercover agents who attempted to solicit Yaroshenko to transport drugs to the United States. The ambassador recalled that Yaroshenko has faced numerous health problems and has been unable to enroll in educational or rehabilitation programmes due to the language barrier. Antonov noted that Yaroshenko has requested that he be transferred to Russia to serve out his remaining prison term three times in line with the international. Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. His applications have been rejected. Antonov's letter was published on the Russian Embassy's Facebook page late on Thursday.   Yaroshenko was captured in Liberia in 2010 and sentenced to 20 years in jail the following year in the United States on charges of conspiring to import drugs, which he denied. The Russian national has repeatedly complained about the lack of medical aid to support his deteriorating health and about abuse by prison personnel. Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in jail in the United States on September 7, 2011. He had been brought to the United States from Liberia after being arrested on May 28, 2010.

Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration operating in disguise allegedly exposed his criminal intentions to transport a large batch of cocaine. Yaroshenko denied all charges against him, describing his arrest as a provocation. Russian officials and Yaroshenko's family have repeatedly requested his extradition to Russia.