Russian citizen Konstantin Yaroshenko, serving a 20-year sentence in a U.S. prison for drug smuggling, wrote to President Donald Trump, asking to be returned to Russia. This news was reported by Izvestia newspaper, which regularly covers the pilot’s situation.
Yaroshenko’s letter was sent to the White House on July 4th, U.S. Independence Day. He acknowledges serving under an illegal and unfair sentence and expresses hope for “humanity and understanding of his difficult situation.” Yaroshenko states, “It is very challenging for me to be imprisoned far from my homeland, my people, and most importantly, my family. The language barrier causes significant difficulties. I can’t fully explain my health problems and can’t seek appropriate medical help. I don’t fully understand the orders of the prison officers, which leads to serious consequences.”
He emphasizes the pain of being separated from his family, highlighting that he hasn’t seen his wife and daughter for over six years due to their inability to afford travel to the U.S.
Izvestia quotes Yaroshenko: “This appeal to Trump is my last chance to return to Russia in my right mind. I hope the President of the United States will show humanity and mercy and allow me to be handed over to the Russian authorities.” The context of this statement was not detailed.
Yaroshenko’s wife Victoria and daughter Ekaterina have also written to Donald Trump, requesting a pardon. Russian Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova made a similar plea.
Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia on May 28, 2010, and brought to the United States, where he was sentenced to 20 years on drug smuggling charges.
Alexey Tarasov, Yaroshenko’s lawyer, emphasized the importance of Yaroshenko’s fate ahead of the G20 summit and the scheduled meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents. “The upcoming meeting of American and Russian leaders is another reason to remind the U.S. that Yaroshenko’s fate is a crucial issue, significantly straining bilateral relations... The matter is not in the legal domain now, but in the political domain. Therefore, I consider any appropriate mechanisms,” said the lawyer.
Source: newsRU.com service, July 5, 2017
