US Justice Dept. Refuses To Comment On Russia's Bid To Transfer Jailed Pilot Yaroshenko

The United States will not comment on the Russian government's request to transfer jailed pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko to Russia, a US Department of Justice spokesperson told Sputnik on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th April, 2019) The United States will not comment on the Russian government's request to transfer jailed pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko to Russia, a US Department of Justice spokesperson told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The Justice Department declines to comment on individual transfer cases," the Justice Department spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, the Russian Justice Ministry said it has prepared a request for the US authorities to hand over Yaroshenko so that he serves the remaining of his term in Russia.

In 2011, Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in prison for allegedly conspiring to smuggle drugs into the country. Yaroshenko was captured in Liberia in 2010 and transferred to the United States without an official extradition procedure, prompting protests from Russia.