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Former Moscow Finance Official Detained In France


French police have detained a former Moscow-region finance minister as part of a fraud investigation.

The Russian Interior Ministry said Aleksei Kuznetsov was arrested in France at Russia’s request.

He is sought over allegations of fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement involving more than 3.5 billion rubles ($105 million).

Russia is expected to file an extradition request.

Kuznetsov was reported detained in Toulon in southern France.

Kuznetsov is reported to have left Russia in 2008 and was put on the international police organization Interpol’s wanted list in November 2012.

Kuznetsov was said to have moved to the United States, and Russian authorities claimed that when he was detained in France he was carrying forged passports.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and ITAR-TASS

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