Woman from Rostov-on-Don asks Russian presidential candidates to help in deporting her son from USA to Russia

Lyubov Yaroshenko, a resident of Rostov-on-Don, the mother of the pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in the USA, intends to appeal against the decision of the New York Court and asks the Russian presidential candidates to help in deporting her son to Russia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has promised to do everything necessary for returning the Russian citizen to his homeland.

The pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko was found guilty of conspiracy in drug trafficking. On September 8, 2011, he was sentenced by the Federal Court of New York City to 20 years of imprisonment.

According to American prosecutors, Yaroshenko accepted an offer of American agents to transport 4 tons of cocaine from South America to Africa, and from there – to the United States. In May 2010, he came, according to the state prosecution, to Liberia to discuss with his Colombian partners, the cost of his services. He was offered 4.5 million US dollars for transporting the cocaine from Venezuela to Liberia, and another 1.8 million US dollars – for delivering it to Nigeria and Ghana, from where the drug was to travel to the United States.

At the preliminary hearing Yaroshenko refused to plead guilty; however, last April a jury passed a guilty verdict. Two of the figurants in the case – the Africans Nathaniel French and Kudufiya Mavuko – were acquitted by the jury, another – Peter Ume Chikbo on July 28 was sentenced to 30 years in prison, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The mother of the convict is seeking an appeal trial in Russia. According to Lyubov Yaroshenko, the legal costs (including hiring lawyers) took all the family money. Now her main aim is the appeal, but to tackle it seriously, she needs over 500,000 US dollars.

"The most important thing is to move arguments and consistently raise the issue before the American Themis of Konstantin's deportation to his homeland and holding here in Russia an appeal trial; since only here we can actually reach a just and lawful decision. The US legislation has legal opportunities for that. Another matter – to put them into practice," Lyubov Yaroshenko wrote in her letter to the Russian presidential candidates.

She asks for their support and assistance, the website of Rostov-on-Don reports.

Russian security services claim that they have no information about any Konstantin Yaroshenko's illegal activities in Russia, the "Russian News Service" reports.