GENEVA, May 19 (RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Andrianova) - Russia has sent an extradition request for former Nuclear Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov to Switzerland, the Federal Department of Justice reported.
We received the extradition request on Tuesday. It is based on the arrest warrant issued by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow on May 14, said Folco Galli, a spokesman of the Federal Department of Justice.
According to the Federal Department of Justice, the Russian Office of the Prosecutor General opened a criminal case of fraud against Adamov.
The Russian extradition request differs from the American one, but both countries mention the embezzlement of funds granted to Russia for improving its nuclear safety systems, says the statement of the Federal Department of Justice.
Now that the Swiss office has received an extradition request from Russia, it should decide which request, Russian or American, to grant.
According to Galli, the office will take into account various factors, including the time of receiving the request and the gravity of Adamov's alleged crime.
Yevgeny Adamov, 66, Russia's Nuclear Energy Minister in 1998-2001, was detained in Bern on May 2. The arrest warrant for the former minister was issued by the court of the western district of Pennsylvania. The man is expecting extradition to the US in a Bern prison.
Switzerland asked the US to supply an official extradition request, which should be compiled within 40-60 days. Adamov was offered to accept a simplified extradition procedure, which he rejected.
The US authorities accuse Adamov and his business partner, US national Mark Kaushansky of embezzling $9 million granted by the US government to Russia for improving nuclear safety systems.
Adamov faces up to 60 years in prison and a fine of $1.75 million in the US.
