Austria: Court refuses to extradite Ukrainian billionaire Firtash to US
euronews (in English)
2015-05-01
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An Austrian court has refused to extradite Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash to the US on corruption charges.
A judge in Vienna said American officials have failed to make a sufficient case of any wrongdoing.
Billionaire Firtash – one of Ukraine’s most influential oligarchs – was arrested in Austria a year ago at the request of US authorities, which have been investigating him since 2006.
The 49-year-old was released from detention in March 2014 after posting bail of 125 million euros.
Firtash has maintained the extradition attempt is politically motivated.
“All that I have to say is that I’m pleased with the outcome. I sincerely believed that Austrian justice would treat me fairly, from the start. But I was really worried and afraid because the United States is the United States,” he said after his extradition was refused by the court.
“That’s why unfortunately I had mixed feelings and was prepared for any decision,” he continued.
“But in any case, I knew I’d don
A judge in Vienna said American officials have failed to make a sufficient case of any wrongdoing.
Billionaire Firtash – one of Ukraine’s most influential oligarchs – was arrested in Austria a year ago at the request of US authorities, which have been investigating him since 2006.
The 49-year-old was released from detention in March 2014 after posting bail of 125 million euros.
Firtash has maintained the extradition attempt is politically motivated.
“All that I have to say is that I’m pleased with the outcome. I sincerely believed that Austrian justice would treat me fairly, from the start. But I was really worried and afraid because the United States is the United States,” he said after his extradition was refused by the court.
“That’s why unfortunately I had mixed feelings and was prepared for any decision,” he continued.
“But in any case, I knew I’d don
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