WASHINGTON, July 15 (RIA Novosti) – Russian diplomats consider unacceptable the incarceration conditions of the Russian citizen, Roman Seleznev, suspected of fraud by the US authorities, and will press for his transfer from prison to a hospital, a representative of the consulate general in San-Francisco told RIA Novosti Tuesday.
“Diplomats continue to insist on the improvement of incarceration conditions of the Russian citizen and in cooperation with his lawyers will press for his speedy transfer to a medical facility, although it is only possible under the court ruling,” the diplomatic source said.
According to him, Seleznev’s present conditions are terrible.
“We made the point to the American side about the unacceptable conditions of incarceration of the Russian citizen, who is currently kept in a three square meters large individual cell. In addition, the very building of the prison is in a state of disrepair and needs a complete overhaul,” the source noted.
Seleznev is also not allowed to use the phone to contact his relatives. The quality of nutrition leaves much to be desired too. The Russian citizen, who became disabled as a result of a terrorist attack in Morocco in 2011, complained that he did not have the necessary medicine.
“His health is in jeopardy due to the fact that tomorrow he will run out of the medicine prescribed to him in Russia, while an American alternative treatment causes serious side effects,” the diplomat underlined.
The diplomats of the Russian embassy in the US and from the consulate general in San-Francisco met with Seleznev twice on Monday. They also held meetings with his attorneys and an employee of the US Marshal Service that facilitates control over the prisoner’s welfare.
Seleznev, 30, was arrested on July 5, in a Maldivian airport by US secret services on suspicion of cybercrime. Seleznev was taken to the US island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean, where he appeared in court on Monday. The ensuing hearings are to be held on July 22.
The detained Russian citizen, accused of fraud involving credit cards and theft of personal data, faces up to 30 years in jail. US authorities have failed to explain under what circumstances Seleznev was detained and taken to a third country. The Russian Foreign Ministry has called the incident an unfriendly move by the United States and a de facto kidnapping.
