BUTNER /North Carolina/, April 6, 2024 (BSS /TASS) - The US authorities continue their hunt for Russian citizens in third countries, seeking their deportation to the United States, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said.

"The Americans continue their hunt for Russian citizens; they keep grabbing them in third countries and seek their deportation here, to the United States of America. And it is simply extremely difficult, if ever possible, to get out once you're here," Antonov told reporters after visiting Russian citizen Roman Seleznyov, who is currently imprisoned in Butner, North Carolina. According to the envoy, "this is exactly what happened" to Roman Seleznyov.

Antonov will send a note to the US authorities demanding that they alleviate the conditions in jail for Seleznev, who is serving a sentence in North Carolina's Butner prison complex.

"After coming back to Washington, I am going to send a note to the Department of State. I have an idea to contact the chief of US prisons (the head of the Federal Bureau of Prisons within the US Department of Justice - TASS) in order to make life in prison easier for Roman. Most importantly, I would like to emphasize again that his health is not very good, but there is no need to disclose all his health conditions. He is waiting, and I hope very much that his turn will come, when we will be able to have Roman released and he will be able to hug his family and friends in Moscow," the ambassador said.

Earlier, the Russian envoy said there was no chance of Seleznyov being released early from his imprisonment in the United States.

"There are no such chances. But there is an opportunity if he is exchanged for any of the Americans [jailed in Russia] through the existing confidential channel."

But Antonov said he was unaware of any details in that sphere.

In August 2016, the jury found Seleznyouv guilty of cyber crime. He was convicted of computer hacks that hit more than 200 US businesses over several years. On April 21, 2017, Seattle's federal district court sentenced the Russian to 27 years of imprisonment and a penalty of $170 mln.

Antonov also added that the US authorities have not yet denied Russian diplomats meetings with Russian citizens imprisoned in the US.

"I will be careful. Up to this point, we have not been denied meetings with Russian citizens in American custody," he said, answering a question.

Russian Ambassador was also asked to comment on the remarks made by Roger Carstens, US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, who said on April 4 that Washington prepares new proposals on the exchange of prisoners. Antonov answered that Russia would examine potential new US proposals on the exchange of prisoners and provide an adequate response, should it receive such proposals.

"It is very difficult for me to speak for the current US Administration. If they prepare such proposals, then I would like to say that they will be properly examined, and our corresponding agencies will provide an adequate response," Antonov underscored.