The French authorities granted the request of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation for the extradition of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Moscow region Alexey Kuznetsov. Official and his alleged accomplices are accused of causing damage to the region and a number of enterprises in excess of USD 14 billion. We are talking about 22 episodes of fraud, embezzlement and legalization of property acquired illegally in 2000-ies. Kuznetsov several years was in the international wanted list through Interpol, and in 2013, was arrested in the South of France. Since then, continued litigation about the possible extradition of a former official of the Russian side. According to the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia Svetlana Petrenko, a matter Kuznetsova will be sent to court after the completion of the necessary procedural actions.

  • RIA Novosti

French authorities gave the Russian side the former Deputy Chairman of the government of Moscow region Alexey Kuznetsov, who is accused of financial fraud. About it reported in a press-service of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

“The competent authorities of the French Republic satisfied the request of the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation for the extradition of the former first Deputy Chairman of Moscow region government — Finance Minister of Moscow region government Alexey Viktorovich Kuznetsov for criminal prosecution under part 4 of article 159, part 4 of article 160 and part 3 of article 174.1 of the criminal code”, — stated in a press release.

Held the post of Minister of Finance of Moscow region in the period 2000-2008 and the first Vice-Premier of the government of the Moscow region in 2004-2008 Kuznetsov is accused of ten counts of fraud, three cases of embezzlement and nine episodes of legalization of property acquired as a result of the crimes committed.

According to investigators, Kuznetsov and his accomplices caused the government of the Moscow region, enterprises of housing and communal services of the region and the company “mosobltrastinvest” damage amounting to more than 14 billion rubles.

Recall that in late July 2008 Kuznetsov wrote a letter of resignation from the government of the Moscow region “at will” and left for the United States, a citizen which is his ex-wife Janna bullock, also implicated in the criminal scheme. In August, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Kuznetsov and his accomplices, including bullock and the Deputy head of the regional Finance Minister Vladimir Nosov.

And if noses, the former head of OJSC “Moscow regional trust company” Vladislav Telepnev and economist of “RV-Finance” Elena Kuznetsova was in 2014 given sentences ranging from 7 to 14 years of age, Kuznetsov and bullock have long been on the international wanted list.

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French authorities detained Kuznetsova in the South of the country in July 2013, and during the arrest he had seized several fake passports. In December of the same year the courts of appeal of AIX-EN-Provence and Lyon considered the case on his extradition to Russia, and in April 2017 Kuznetsov was released from custody because the length of his detention “exceeded a reasonable time.” After that the Russian was under electronic surveillance in Paris and to report regularly to the police Department.

“After hearing the convincing arguments in support of a request for extradition, as well as answers to the process questions the court and the parties, French courts by their decisions have confirmed the validity of the Russian request for extradition of Kuznetsov. The decree on his extradition signed by the Prime Minister of France November 21, 2017,” — said the Prosecutor General’s office.

In a press-service of the Ministry added that Kuznetsov filed a complaint against the court decision on extradition to the Russian Federation. After studying the Russian side provided additional materials and guarantees the rights of the accused when its content in the Russian penitentiary institutions, the Council of State of France at the end of December 2018 has decided to reject his request.

“Today, 3 January 2019, accompanied by employees FSIN of Russia and the Russian Bureau of Interpol Kuznetsov is extradited to Russia”, — said the Prosecutor’s office.

The Ministry stressed that the Russian side attaches special importance to international cooperation and actively participates in it. That is why Moscow has managed to extradite Kuznetsov.

“A permanent operational cooperation with French colleagues helps to overcome existing barriers due to differences in our legal systems,” — said the press service of the Prosecutor General.

In turn, the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia Svetlana Petrenko told reporters that the case of Kuznetsova will be sent to court after the completion of all necessary procedural actions.

We will add that in January of 2018, the Basmanny court of Moscow sentenced former spouse Kuznetsova Zhanna bullock to 11 years in prison for theft in especially large sizes. However, the United States refused to give the Russian side a citizen of their country.