WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Igor Litvak, lawyer representing convicted Russian citizen Roman Seleznev, told Sputnik on Friday that the Seleznev’s defense team plans to pen a letter to US President Donald Trump asking that Seleznev be given the opportunity to serve his sentence in Russia.
"The letter doesn't exist yet, but we plan to compose it probably by the end of the month," Litvak said. "We want to ask Trump to let [Seleznev] serve his sentence in Russia."
Litvak noted such a letter is the first of its kind sent to the US president.
"We would like to send it via the Russian Foreign Ministry. We don't have a specific plan yet," Litvak said.
The judge denied taking Seleznev’s confession into consideration, saying the defendant made untruthful statements during the proceedings.
Litvak called the sentence "completely inappropriate," given Seleznev’s medical condition and the fact that he admitted guilt.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized Seleznev's arrest in the Maldives and extradition to the United States and characterized his detention as kidnapping and against all norms of international law.
