Adamov (L) with President Putin (file photo) (epa)
30 December 2005 -- The United States has expressed disappointment over a Swiss court's decision to extradite Russia's former Nuclear Energy Minister Yevgenii Adamov to Russia instead of to the United States to face corruption charges.
State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said the United States would have preferred that the Swiss justice system send Adamov to the United States, but now looks to Russia to ensure that justice is done in the case.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has welcomed the decision by Switzerland's top court, announced yesterday, to extradite Adamov to Russia.
Russian officials were believed to be concerned that Adamov could reveal secret Russian information to the Americans if he was delivered to U.S. custody.
The United States accuses Adamov, who was nuclear energy minister from 1998 to 2001, of diverting some $9 million the United States sent to Russia for nuclear safety projects. He is accused by Russian authorities of fraudulent activities while serving as minister.
(Agencies)