Russian pilot Yaroshenko incarcerated in U.S. has stomach surgery
ROSTOV-ON-DON. May 7 (Interfax) - Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving a 20-year sentence in the United States, feels better after his surgery, Yaroshenko's wife Viktoriya told Interfax.
"His stomach was examined after numerous complaints, and several tumors were found. We were told that the tumors were removed right after the examination. They also said the tumors were benign. He feels a little better. He also takes food, as there is practically no change to his stomach," Viktoriya Yaroshenko said.
Viktoriya added that her husband still had a dental problem. "His dental problem has not been resolved, and he is not receiving such assistance," she said.
There is no response to the request filed by the Russian Justice Ministry in April for transferring Yaroshenko to Russia, where he will serve the rest of his time, she said.
"There is no information about the appeal; there has been no response. He also asked the court for reducing the sentence from 20 to 15 years, but the request was denied," Viktoriya Yaroshenko said.
The U.S. authorities refused to transfer the pilot to Russia in April 2017.
Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia on May 28, 2010, on counts of plotting transportation of a large batch of cocaine. He was deported to the United States and sentenced to 20 years on September 7, 2011.
Yaroshenko spent several years in the Fort Dix prison, but was transferred in the middle of June 2018, presumably because of a brawl with another inmate. He is currently serving time in the Danbury penitentiary in Connecticut.