Adamov (right) with U.S. official Bill Richardson in 1999 (AFP)
1 November 2005 -- A lawyer for former Russian Nuclear Energy Minister Yevgenii Adamov said today his client has appealed his extradition from Switzerland to the United States to face corruption charges.
Defense counsel Stefan Wehrenberg said the appeal was lodged with Switzerland's supreme court, the Federal Tribunal.
Wehrenberg argued that the Swiss Justice Ministry's decision to extradite Adamov to the U.S. did not take into account the immunity he said Adamov is entitled to as a former minister.
Adamov, who was Russia's nuclear energy minister from 1998 to 2001, is suspected of fraud in connection with $9 million granted by the U.S. government to help Russia improve its nuclear safety.
Adamov was arrested in Bern in May at the request of U.S. authorities who filed for his extradition. Shortly afterwards Russia filed its own extradition request.
(AFP/AP)
Wehrenberg argued that the Swiss Justice Ministry's decision to extradite Adamov to the U.S. did not take into account the immunity he said Adamov is entitled to as a former minister.
Adamov, who was Russia's nuclear energy minister from 1998 to 2001, is suspected of fraud in connection with $9 million granted by the U.S. government to help Russia improve its nuclear safety.
Adamov was arrested in Bern in May at the request of U.S. authorities who filed for his extradition. Shortly afterwards Russia filed its own extradition request.
(AFP/AP)