Russian Rights Activists Ask HRW to Review Yaroshenko, Bout Prison Conditions

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Moscow Human Rights Bureau has requested the Human Rights Watch to direct its attention to the detention conditions of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko and businessman Viktor Bout, both of whom were convicted and are serving prison sentences in the United States, the director of the Bureau, Alexander Brod, told Sputnik Friday.

"We have sent an address to the oldest US [rights] organization, the Human Rights Watch, in which we asked it to draw attention to the cases of Bout and Yaroshenko, their detention conditions, and opportunities to communicate with relatives and the media. This letter was sent via mail, which is why the response has not followed to date. We hope that your colleagues will hear us," Brod said.

He specified that the Russian human rights defenders were interested in ensuring respect for the rights of the two aforementioned Russian nationals.

Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in US prison for allegedly conspiring to import drugs into the United States, while Bout is serving a 25-prison sentence over accusations of conspiring to supply a terrorist organization with weapons.