Russian Foreign Ministry: US authorities refused to treat Russians convicted on their territory

Russian diplomats worried about keeping Russians in American prisons during the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. As noted by Zakharova, medical assistance to prisoners there is provided on a leftover basis, and the risk of getting sick in a closed space increases.

“We have raised this issue in the United States many times. We are particularly concerned about the state of the healthcare system in prisons, in particular, the ability to provide convicted Russians as needed with everything they need”, - states the message on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova added that arrested Russians abroad often have serious health problems, which the prison authorities do not pay attention to.

“A good example is Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of the US agency for the fight against drugs, built entirely on the testimony of dummy agents. For ten years now, a convict has regularly faced neglect of his health in an American prison”, - Zakharova said, adding that minimal medical assistance can be achieved only after many appeals, at the same time I do not respond to requests for complex medical examinations at all.

Similarly, no assistance is provided to convicted Russians Roman Seleznev and Viktor But. “We demand a proper and fair attitude towards them”, - Zakharova noted.

According to her, now there are still many of our compatriots abroad who are under investigation or convicted under various articles. All of them are supported by the Russian consulates in these countries. “They are provided with comprehensive assistance: informational, consulting, legal, and assistance in ensuring that their rights are respected”, - Zakharova added.

In particular, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry gave an example of the criminal prosecution of the Russian woman Maria Lazareva, who currently remains under the protection of the Russian embassy in Kuwait along with her five-year-old son. “Now both our embassy in Kuwait and the ministry are dealing with her fate. She is also assisted in maintaining contacts with her family, assistance with lawyers, as well as with the Kuwaiti side”, - Zakharova noted.