A French court has ruled Kazakh tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov can be extradited to Russia and Ukraine to face charges of fraud.

Ablyazov is accused of embezzling billions of euros from his former bank BTA. The Kazakhstan lender operates in both Russia and Ukraine.

The 50-year-old dissident denies any wrong doing.

The court in Aix-en-Provence declared Russia should take priority.

Sought by Interpol, Ablyazov was granted political asylum by Britain in 2011 but was arrested on the French Riviera last July.

The former trade minister’s family and human rights groups have warned his life will be at risk if he is returned to his homeland.

Last May, his wife and daughter were controversially expelled from Italy back to Kazakhstan.