MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Foreign Ministry official confirmed Friday on Russian radio that U.S. prosecutors had visited the ministry to discuss the extradition of Russia's former nuclear power minister, in custody in Switzerland since his arrest there in May at the request of U.S. authorities. Ministry spokesman Mikhail Troyansky said Russian officials "laid out to the American delegation led by Mary Beth Buchanan, the Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Russia's position based on international law that Adamov should be extradited to Russia as soon as possible."
U.S. authorities are accusing Yevgeny Adamov, 63, of embezzling $9 million in Energy Department allocations for programs to raise the safety of Russian nuclear facilities during his 1998-2001 ministerial term. If convicted in the U.S., he faces up to 60 years in prison and a $1.75 million fine.
Adamov is wanted in Russia on charges of fraud and abuse of office.
Troyansky's interview was meant to refute media reports that questioned the likelihood of the U.S. attorney's visit to Moscow and her meeting with Foreign Ministry officials.
