KRASNOYARSK. March 22 (Interfax) - Artyom Zakharov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's office in Krasnoyarsk, has confirmed reports that an Italian court granted a United States request for Russian businessman Artyom Uss's extradition.
"Our agency's position is that Artyom Uss, as well as any other Russian citizens who have found themselves in the same situation, must be returned to the Russian Federation," Zakharov told Interfax.
He described the Italian court ruling on Uss's extradition to the U.S. as having "political connotations."
"Political bias is obvious here. This looks like a kind of hostage-taking act packaged in a legal wrapping," he said.
Russia has filed all the necessary requests and arguments with Italian law enforcement agencies as concerns Uss's transfer to Russia, he said.
Artyom Uss was detained at an Italian airport on October 20, 2022. The U.S. has charged him with evading sanctions.
Krasnoyarsk Governor Alexander Uss described his son's detention in Italy as politically motivated.
The Moscow City Court ruled in December 2022 to validate an arrest warrant for Artyom Uss, who had been detained in Italy and declared internationally wanted by Russian law enforcement agencies.
Russia has indicted Uss in absentia for massive laundering of money or other property illegally acquired by other persons as part of an organized group.