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Russia to continue efforts to return home Russians jailed in US

The Russian authorities continue their efforts to return home pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko and other Russians

© EPA/SHAWN THEW

MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. The Russian authorities intend to continue their efforts to return home pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko and other Russians being held in the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

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"Russian diplomats and lawyers continue dealing with the case of Yaroshenko and other our citizens being held in the United States," the presidential spokesman said.

"We’ll continue safeguarding their interests and seek their return home," Peskov said.

"Although this work has not produced instant results, we won’t weaken our efforts," the Kremlin spokesman said.

Moscow has proposed to Washington to use the Council of Europe mechanism for the transfer of sentenced persons to return home Russian citizens Yaroshenko and Viktor Bout, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

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 in January, but proper post-operation treatment was denied to him.

Russian national Bout was detained in 2008 in the capital of Thailand on a warrant issued by a local court on a request from the United States. He was sentenced in 2012 to 25 years in prison in the United States for alleged illegal arms supplies.

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Foreign policy United States

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