MOSCOW, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday that the Swiss authorities' decision to extradite former Russian nuclear minister Yevgeny Adamov to the United States was motivated by political and not legal considerations.
"Moscow expresses its concern because the Federal Justice Department's decision goes against legal and objective considerations," the ministry said in a statement.
"First of all we proceed from the fact that a citizenship of a person, who is a subject of extradition, is a priority for the consideration of extradition requests," the statement said.
"Particularly we have drawn attention to the fact that Yevgeny Adamov, as a former member of the government, had an immunity against criminal jurisdiction of a foreign state concerning his activities during the term of his office," the ministry said.
Adamov, who was minister from 1998 to 2001, was arrested on May 2 in Berne at the request of the U.S. authorities, which suspect him of embezzling $9 million.
The U.S. filed an official extradition request on June 24, and Russia did so on May 17. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has charged the ex-minister with swindle and abuse of office.
Adamov's lawyers have 30 days to appeal Monday's decision.
