MOSCOW, May 8 (RAPSI) - Russia’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova would ask U.S. authorities to deport convicted pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko on health grounds, the ombudsman’s press service told RAPSI Wednesday.

Earlier, prison hospital doctors excised Yaroshenko’s benign stomach tumors. According to his wife, he is feeling better now.

However, Moskalkova believes that American authorities will show humanism and grant Yaroshenko’s deportation because of health problems on the principle of mutuality.

Moskalkova has previously forwarded petitions to the U.S. Prosecutor General’s Office and state bodies supervising American penal system. In her request, the human rights commissioner also described poor health condition of Yaroshenko and asked to grant him medical aid and relevant conditions of confinement.

In April, the ombudsman said that U.S. President Donald Trump refused to pardon the pilot.

Konstantin Yaroshenko was arrested in Liberia on May 28, 2010 and flown to the United States soon afterwards. On September 7, 2011, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding to smuggle cocaine into the United States. He was caught after replying to an advertisement posted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents who claimed they were selling a cargo plane for $1.

He is serving his term in the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

It was reported in February 2014 that Yaroshenko experienced strong migraine headaches and heart pain, which could be symptoms of a possible heart attack. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the pilot’s health and pledged to continue working to ensure respect of his rights in the United States.

In May 2016, a U.S. court dismissed his appeal for retrial. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said this is evidence that Yaroshenko’s conviction was politically influenced.