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Russian diplomat blasts 'baseless' reports about US inmates subjected to ill treatment

The diplomat noted that it was not the first time that the US was making such statements

MOSCOW, February 4./TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has castigated reports by the Western media as baseless regarding the alleged ill treatment of US nationals Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed convicted in Russia.

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"The claim is, without any proof whatsoever, that Whelan … reportedly didn't receive adequate medical treatment, that he allegedly became ill in a penal colony, and is running temperature yet getting no aid," the diplomat told a briefing, while shedding light on the fact that Whelan "was caught red-handed and charged with espionage."

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The diplomat noted that this was not the first time that the US had made such statements. "Right now, just like it was previously - they haven’t found any corroboration. Each time Whelan goes to the medical unit with signs of some ailment, he receives treatment, and various options of this aid are offered to him. And I can assure you that he feels satisfactory," Zakharova went on to say.

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She stressed that in the meantime, Russian inmates in the US do need help, but they get it only after Russian consular services and embassies step in. "I would like that they [the US] take care of the jailed citizens of other countries, primarily from the Russian Federation, in an appropriate manner, based on their own guidelines," the diplomat emphasized.

"We urge the American side to not even attempt to put pressure on Russia to get unilateral concessions. We have repeatedly said that it is futile to talk to us this way," she maintained.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia would not make unilateral concessions to the US on the issue of swapping inmates. In relation to this, the diplomatic agency reiterated that Whelan had been found guilty of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Reed had been sentenced to 9 years for attacking members of law enforcement.

Meanwhile, early in December, the Foreign Ministry put the spotlight on the jail conditions of some Russian nationals. In particular, Konstantin Yaroshenko and Roman Seleznyov who have not received proper medical aid, despite having serious health issues. Another Russian inmate, Viktor Bout is repeatedly being transferred to special prison units with harsher conditions without any apparent reasons.

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