MOSCOW. April 28 (Interfax) - The Russian human rights commissioner has asked the United States to explain why it felt the need to make conditions tougher for Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who has been imprisoned in the U.S.
"I asked the minister of the U.S. penitentiary system to explain why his prison conditions have been made tougher," Tatiana Moskalkova told reporters.
She said that she also asked the Russian Prosecutor General's Office to petition for Yaroshenko's transfer so that he can serve the remainder of his sentence in a Russian prison. "I am waiting for answers," Moskalkova said.
Yaroshenko was arrested by security officers in Liberia on May 28, 2010 and accused of attempting to smuggle a large amount of cocaine. He was deported to the U.S., where a district court in southern New York state sentenced him to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy to smuggle a large quantity of drugs, part of which were intended for sale in the U.S.
In mid-February, Moskalkova said that Yaroshenko's prison conditions had become harsher: he was no longer allowed to buy food or medication, and the number of walks and visitations he was allowed decreased.