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Russia counts on US assistance with regard to Bout, Yaroshenko

Lavrov said Russian and American representatives "regularly discuss the theme of the future of the Russian citizens" in the United States
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russia counts on a further assistance from the American side with regard to Russian citizens Konstantin Yaroshenko and Viktor Bout who are kept in US prisons, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday as a result of talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Lavrov said Russian and American representatives "regularly discuss the theme of the future of the Russian citizens" in the United States. "We also draw attention to problems which Bout and Yaroshenko encounter," he pointed out.

The American side "promises to take necessary measures from the viewpoint of both medical assistance, normal nourishment, and other aspects of upkeep in the American prison", the Minister said. "Besides," he went on to say, "we again emphasized and confirmed it to the American counterparts that when appelate procedures with regard to the sentences on Bout and Yaroshenko are completed (both of them filed an appeal against the sentences), and if the appeals are turned down, we shall activate the machinery of the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons to home country for serving punishment. We expect that in that case we shall be also given full assistance".