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Solving problem with jailed pilot Yaroshenko could improve Russia-US relations — diplomat

Yaroshenko’s wife Viktoria earlier told TASS that the Russian pilot had been put into solitary confinement for a month despite his critical health condition

Konstantin Yaroshenko Valery Matytsin/TASS

Konstantin Yaroshenko

© Valery Matytsin/TASS

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. Solving the situation around Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko jailed in the United States could help improve relations between Moscow and Washington, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with RBC on Tuesday.

"The situation with pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko is the most vivid example of how ineffectively our American colleagues react to situations, which are very tragic humanly and which could be solved only upon the presence of the willpower," the diplomat stressed.

"If this is done, this would have a beneficial effect and would become a serious signal that something is beginning to change for the better," the diplomat stressed.

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Russian pilot jailed in US put into solitary confinement, says his wife

Yaroshenko’s wife Viktoria earlier told TASS that the Russian pilot had been put into solitary confinement for a month despite his critical health condition.

Russian pilot 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 underwent a surgery last year, but proper post-operation treatment was denied to him.

Russia has numerously requested the United States to release Yaroshenko.

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