Russia has filed a second extradition request for a Russian pilot sentenced to 20 years in jail in the U.S. for conspiring to smuggle drugs, a Foreign Ministry official said Friday.
Konstantin Dolgov , the Foreign Ministry's special representative for human rights, said the U.S. had promised to review the appeal within three months.
Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in the west African state of Liberia in an undercover operation in May 2010 and was later flown to the United States. He pleaded innocent to drug-smuggling charges but was convicted and sentenced in April 2011 for colluding to smuggle cocaine into the United States.
The New York Federal Court of Appeals in August rejected a motion for his retrial. The U.S. Supreme Court has also rejected an appeal from his lawyers.
Dolgov said Friday that the Kremlin is pushing for a priority review, which would avoid a two-year wait after the initial extradition request was rejected.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
