Geneva might seek extradition of Russians over crash scandal

Authorities in Geneva might seek extradition of Russian nationals over a drunken high-speed car race, which left a German man severely injured, the Tribune de Geneve paper said on Wednesday.

PARIS, November 25 (RIA Novosti) - Authorities in Geneva might seek extradition of Russian nationals over a drunken high-speed car race, which left a German man severely injured, the Tribune de Geneve paper said on Wednesday.

The paper said authorities in Geneva might demand the extradition of the four suspects if it is proven that they caused the crash and subsequently fled the scene. However, investigators have yet to prove that a street race took place.

"If the facts are serious, the justice might demand their extradition," the prosecutor general of Geneva, Daniel Zappelli, told the paper.

The paper, which identifies the suspects as "brothers I.," said they left the country on Sunday on a private plane, and flew to Istanbul "to meet with their father, a wealthy Russian oligarch."

The Russians were reportedly racing a Lamborghini, a Bugatti, a Mercedes and a Porsche at over 220 km an hour (about 150 miles an hour) on a highway by Lake Geneva last week. The Lamborghini driver hit a Volkswagen driven by a 70-year-old German citizen, who received head injuries and is still in hospital.

Investigators have not disclosed the names of the suspects, but media reports said two of the young racers were sons of the tycoon Telman Ismailov, who opened an ultra luxury hotel on Turkey's Mediterranean this summer. The third suspect was not identified.

The Lamborghini Murcielago driver was identified as 22-year-old Ziya Babayev, a local university student.