DUSHANBE, November 10, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi had a telephone conversation with his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet Wednesday evening.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to Estonian citizen Aleksey Rudenko, who was jailed in Tajikistan on November 8 along with Russian citizen Vladimir Sadovnichiy.

Estonia’s foreign minister reportedly appreciated Tajikistan’s timely response to an appeal by the Estonian side and its support for attendance of representatives of Estonia at the trial of Rudenko and Sadovnichiy.

“At the same time, Mr. Paet expressed concern about the verdict, saying that it is “severe” and asked to provide assistance with consideration of the appeal filed by Rudenko against the verdict,” said the source.  “Estonian foreign minister also offered to sign an extradition agreement.”

Estonia’s Foreign Ministry has reportedly been working on the extradition agreement with Tajikistan since 2009.

Zarifi, for his part, noted that the country’s law enforcement agencies had observed all necessary legal procedures while arresting and convicting Aleksey Rudenko.  Tajik minister, however, noted that “the Tajik side is ready to provide assistance with solution of this issue within the frameworks of the legislation of the country and international legal norms.”

We will recall that the Qurghon Teppa city court sentenced Captain Vladimir Sadovnichiy (Russian national) and Captain Aleksey Rudenko (citizen of Estonia) to 8 ½ years in prison each on November 8.  The sentence followed their conviction on charges of smuggling, illegal border crossing, and violating international air carriage regulations.

The pilots were arrested in March, when the An-72 cargo planes they were piloting landed at the Qurghon Teppa airport for unscheduled refueling en route to Russia from Afghanistan.  The cargo of one of the planes included a disassembled aircraft engine that was not listed on the customs declaration.  Both of the planes, owned by Rolkan Investment Ltd., a private company domiciled in the British Virgin Islands, were confiscated by Tajik authorities.