A Russian pilot who was detained in Liberia in May by U.S. intelligence agencies on cocaine trafficking charges and transferred to the United States is not receiving the necessary medical assistance, his lawyer said.
Konstantin Yaroshenko, 41, will stand trial along with other members of an alleged drug trafficking group in New York. They are accused of trafficking cocaine to South America, Africa and Europe, mainly from Liberia and Venezuela.
All of the members of the group have denied the accusations. If they are convicted, they may face from 10 years imprisonment to life sentences.
"I talked to him on July 24. Unfortunately, he told me he had not received any medical treatment," Alexander Bozhenko said. "Until now, he has not been seen by a doctor and he has not been given the necessary medication."
Bozhenko said that his client suffers from gastritis, which may develop into an ulcer, and is in a weak physical condition after suffering from malaria three times. He said the defendant is being fed only instant food.
"His health has worsened from the month and a half imprisonment," the lawyer said.
Bozhenko also said Yaroshenko had not been allowed to see the evidence against him.
"He still does not understand what he is guilty of," Bozhenko said.
The lawyer said he is having difficulties raising funds for Yaroshenko's defense. He said a web site for members of the public to send donations may be opened very soon.
Yaroshenko arrived to the capital of Liberia, Monrovia, on May 28 to meet with some entrepreneurs, who allegedly found him via the Internet.
It was expected that the prospective businessmen would examine the plane to see if it was suitable for flight and discuss contract details.
In a Monrovian hotel, the pilot was arrested by agents wearing civilian clothes who did not identify themselves and later transferred him on a cargo plane to the United States. The lawyer said that during his detainment in Liberia, the pilot was chained by his arms and feet.
"Konstantin [Yaroshenko] says that for two days he had no water or food and was beaten," the lawyer said. "They also demanded that he sign some papers."
On the third day, he was taken to an airport and flown to an unknown destination. Upon arrival, Yaroshenko was driven to a holding facility. He was told later he was in New York.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that on June 28 it sent an official notice to the U.S. State Department with demands for explanations of the situation and the activities of the U.S. authorities. On July 14, the ministry invited U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle to discuss the inadmissibility of actions conducted by the U.S. authorities during the Yaroshenko's arrest and his transfer to New York.
Beyrle said that conditions of Yaroshenko's imprisonment were fine.
The U.S. Department of State has apologized to Russia for the delayed notification of the arrest.
ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 27 (RIA Novosti)
