The family of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko who has been in the US jail for about six years now will continue fighting for his release after his mother’s death, Yaroshenko’s wife Viktoria told TASS on Wednesday.

Yaroshenko’s mother died of a heart attack at a Rostov-on-Don hospital on May 7. The pilot was informed about her death over the phone.

"All our possibilities, including through the judicial panel, have been used up. One hope is for the Russian government and I hope that it [the government of Russia] won’t leave us in trouble," Viktoria said, noting that she would continue sending petitions to the competent bodies of Russia and the United States.

According to Yaroshenko’s wife, "Konstantin received the news about his mother’s death with great pain." Viktoria broke him the news over the phone.

Russian pilot Yaroshenko was sentenced to 20 years in jail in the United States on September 7, 2011. He had been brought to the United States from Liberia after being arrested on May 28, 2010. Agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration operating in disguise allegedly exposed his criminal intentions to transport a large batch of cocaine.

Yaroshenko underwent a surgery last year, but proper post-operation treatment was denied to him.

Russia has numerously requested the United States to release Yaroshenko.