News
- 18 October 2014, 12:59
- The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
The Court of Appeal of Lyon (France) recommended granting the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation for the extradition of the former First Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Region Government - Finance Minister Aleksey Kuznetsov for criminal prosecution.
At the hearings, on June 12 and September 18, 2014, the Russian Federation was represented by an officer of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office. Speaking before the court in French, he explained the complicated mechanism of the crime, which Kuznetsov was accused of, and provisions of Russian law. He provided compelling arguments in support of the request for extradition and answered the questions of the court.
Kuznetsov’s French lawyers asked the court and the Prosecutor's Office of France to refuse to extradite him to Russia, claiming inter alia, that the prosecution had alleged political character, and his life and health would be in real danger because of the widespread violations of human rights in our country.
However, the court and the Prosecutor's Office of France supported the position of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation.
Throughout the year, this is the second judgment of the French judicial authorities recognizing that the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia for the extradition of Kuznetsov directed by Aleksandr Zvyagintsev, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, fully complies with international law and French law. The first judgment was delivered on January 16, 2014 by the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence. However, it was canceled on April 9, 2014 by the Court of Cassation of France on formal grounds (because of minor violations of the request examination procedure committed by the court), and the case was sent for reconsideration to the Court of Appeal of Lyon.
The final decision on the Kuznetsov’s extradition will be taken by the executive authorities of the state in accordance with French law.
The preliminary investigation authorities accuse Kuznetsov of committing a number of grave crimes: fraud by using his official position by an organized group on especially large scale (10 offenses), legalization (laundering) of property acquired as a result of serious crimes that were committed using his official position by an organized group (9 offenses), embezzlement using his official position by an organized group and on especially large scale (3 offenses).
According to investigators, Kuznetsov and his accomplices caused damage to the Moscow Region Government, enterprises of housing and communal services of the region and the company Mosobltrustinvest in the amount of over RUR 10 billion.
The Prosecutor General's Office
of the Russian Federation
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation
18 October 2014, 12:59
The Court of Appeal of Lyon (France) recommended granting the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation for the extradition of Aleksey Kuznetsov to Russia
The Court of Appeal of Lyon (France) recommended granting the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation for the extradition of the former First Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Region Government - Finance Minister Aleksey Kuznetsov for criminal prosecution.
At the hearings, on June 12 and September 18, 2014, the Russian Federation was represented by an officer of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office. Speaking before the court in French, he explained the complicated mechanism of the crime, which Kuznetsov was accused of, and provisions of Russian law. He provided compelling arguments in support of the request for extradition and answered the questions of the court.
Kuznetsov’s French lawyers asked the court and the Prosecutor's Office of France to refuse to extradite him to Russia, claiming inter alia, that the prosecution had alleged political character, and his life and health would be in real danger because of the widespread violations of human rights in our country.
However, the court and the Prosecutor's Office of France supported the position of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation.
Throughout the year, this is the second judgment of the French judicial authorities recognizing that the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia for the extradition of Kuznetsov directed by Aleksandr Zvyagintsev, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, fully complies with international law and French law. The first judgment was delivered on January 16, 2014 by the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence. However, it was canceled on April 9, 2014 by the Court of Cassation of France on formal grounds (because of minor violations of the request examination procedure committed by the court), and the case was sent for reconsideration to the Court of Appeal of Lyon.
The final decision on the Kuznetsov’s extradition will be taken by the executive authorities of the state in accordance with French law.
The preliminary investigation authorities accuse Kuznetsov of committing a number of grave crimes: fraud by using his official position by an organized group on especially large scale (10 offenses), legalization (laundering) of property acquired as a result of serious crimes that were committed using his official position by an organized group (9 offenses), embezzlement using his official position by an organized group and on especially large scale (3 offenses).
According to investigators, Kuznetsov and his accomplices caused damage to the Moscow Region Government, enterprises of housing and communal services of the region and the company Mosobltrustinvest in the amount of over RUR 10 billion.
