MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - The Vienna Higher Regional Court has decided to extradite former Russian Culture Ministry employee Boris Mazo to Russia, where he faces charges of misappropriation of budget funds and money laundering.
"I can confirm that the extradition decision is final," a court spokesperson told Interfax on Thursday.
Thus, Austria has denied an extradition request lodged by Spain, which also sought Mazo's extradition.
Meanwhile, Mazo's defense team has asked the court to review the decision "based on critical health condition" of the former official and a request to release him as well.
"The decision is pending and, as far as I know, an expert will be heard," the court spokesperson said.
In Russia, Mazo was arrested in absentia and placed on international wanted lists as part of the criminal case over embezzlement of at least 450 million rubles from the budget allocated for the construction of the Hermitage compound. Former Russian deputy culture minister Grigory Pirumov is also a defendant in this case.
According to Russian investigators, Mazo, Pirumov and their accomplices laundered about 800 million rubles they embezzled; the money was allocated to the construction works at the Hermitage complex.
In 2017, Mazo and Pirumov were convicted in the so-called "restorers' case" for embezzling about 164 million rubles when concluding contracts for restoration works on cultural sites. Mazo was given a real jail term but released in courtroom as he had served his term while in custody.
In early November 2019, Mazo was detained in Austria on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by a Marbella court. His ex-wife and son were also detained in Spain and subsequently released.
The European law enforcement agencies believe that the Russian citizens might have laundered money via buying expensive real estate in Marbella with funds criminally gained in Russia.
An informed source told Interfax that the charges against the Mazo family involved their mansion in Spain, which was purchased for over 4 million euros.
Mazo's lawyer Vladislav Musiyaka told Interfax that Mazo had applied for political asylum in Austria. This is a long procedure that could take months or even years, he said.
The lawyer noted that the processing of the political asylum request was unrelated to the consideration of Mazo's possible extradition.
"If Austria decides to extradite Mazo, while decision on granting political asylum to him is still not adopted, he will be extradited," Musiyaka said, answering Interfax's relevant question.