GENEVA, December 29 (RIA Novosti, Yekaterina Andrianova) - Former Russian Nuclear Power Minister Yevgeny Adamov will be extradited to Russia, the Swiss Federal Court said Thursday.
The Swiss Supreme Court in Lausanne upheld the appeal filed by Adamov's lawyers and ruled December 22 that the ex-minister be extradited to Russia, turning down the request by Swiss authorities to extradite him to the U.S. because Russia had been the first to submit an extradition request.
Adamov lawyer Stefan Wehrenberg said the former minister should be extradited to Russia within 15 days. "Adamov insists he is not guilty and intends to fight the accusations of Russian and U.S. judiciaries upon his return to Russia," he said.
Earlier, state TV channel Rossiya announced that Adamov was to be extradited to Russia within 48 hours.
Adamov, who served as Russia's nuclear minister in 1998-2001, was arrested in Bern May 2 at the request of the U.S. Justice Department. U.S. authorities have accused him of misappropriating $9 million granted to Russia for improving the safety of its nuclear facilities. Under U.S. law, Adamov faces up to 60 years in jail and a $1.75 million fine.
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office also opened a criminal case, accusing Adamov of fraud and the abuse of power.
