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Russia Criticizes Swiss Decision To Extradite Adamov To U.S.


3 October 2005 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized a decision by Switzerland today to extradite Russian former Atomic Energy Minister Yevgenii Adamov to the United States.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the Swiss decision "contradicts legal and objective facts" and called it politically motivated.

Swiss authorities arrested Adamov on a U.S. warrant in May. Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Rudolf Wyss explained the ministry's decision to extradite Adamov to the United States.

"An important element in our decision was to prevent any gaps in the inquiries made against Mr. Adamov. If he was extradited to Russia, he would never be extradited to United States after that because he's a Russian citizen," Wyss said.

Russia had been fighting the U.S. extradition request for Adamov, and had filed one of its own. Moscow fears Adamov could reveal nuclear secrets to the United States.

U.S. prosecutors accuse him of stealing up to $9 million intended for improving Russia's nuclear security while he was Russia's nuclear energy chief.

The Swiss Justice Ministry says Adamov has 30 days to file an appeal against his extradition.

(AP/AFP/ITAR-TASS/gazeta.ru)


See also:

Adamov's Secrets, Nuclear And Otherwise

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