This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39043117
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ukraine oligarch Dmytro Firtash faces extradition to US | |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Austrian court has ruled that one of Ukraine's richest men, Dmytro Firtash, can be extradited to the US to face corruption charges. | |
The decision overturns an earlier court ruling, although the justice minister will have the final say. | |
The oligarch, 51, has been in Austria since 2014, when the allegations were first brought by US prosecutors. | |
Mr Firtash, a former ally of ousted Ukraine leader Viktor Yanukovych, says he is the victim of a smear campaign. | |
His gas and chemicals business thrived before Mr Yanukovych was overthrown and fled to Russia in February 2014. | His gas and chemicals business thrived before Mr Yanukovych was overthrown and fled to Russia in February 2014. |
'Absolutely untrue' | |
Mr Firtash was indicted by a US grand jury for allegedly conspiring to pay millions of dollars in bribes to Indian officials through US banks. | |
A lower Austrian court ruling in May 2015 rejected the US extradition request, with the judge saying it was at least partly politically motivated. | |
Profile: Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash | |
The billionaire business magnate had told the lower court that accusations he had plotted to bribe Indian officials to win licences to mine titanium were "absolutely untrue". | |
In overturning the ruling, the Upper State Court said the final decision would be made by Justice Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter. | |
Mr Firtash had been arrested in 2014 in Vienna, and posted a bail of €125m (£102m) - breaking Austrian records. | |
Austrian police insisted the arrest was not related to political events in Ukraine at the time. | |
Much of the anger behind the protests that ousted Mr Yanukovych was fuelled by perceptions of corruption, and the alleged close links between the government and oligarchs. |