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Ukraine oligarch Dmytro Firtash faces extradition to US | Ukraine oligarch Dmytro Firtash faces extradition to US |
(about 3 hours 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. | 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 decision overturns an earlier court ruling, although the justice minister will have the final say. |
The oligarch, who has been in Austria since the US made the allegations in 2013, has now been arrested. | |
Mr Firtash, a former ally of ousted Ukraine leader Viktor Yanukovych, says he is the victim of a smear campaign. | 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 the pro-Moscow Mr Yanukovych was overthrown and fled to Russia in February 2014. | |
'Absolutely untrue' | '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. | 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. | 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 | 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". | 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. | In overturning the ruling, the Upper State Court said the final decision would be made by Justice Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter. |
Mr Firtash was arrested after the latest ruling, although prosecutors said it was on a European warrant relating to allegations of links to organised crime and illegal money laundering in Spain. | |
Has there been any US political pressure? | |
Mr Firtash was first detained in 2014 in Vienna, but was released after posting a record Austrian bail of €125m (£102m). | |
During the lower court hearing, Mr Firtash's team raised the issue of political motive. | |
At the time, Mr Yanukovych had just indicated he would not sign a deal bringing Ukraine closer to the EU, despite US pressure. | |
The judge said there may have been a US desire to remove his ally, Mr Firtash, from the scene. | |
"The aim was clearly to prevent [Firtash] from undermining the political interests of the US," he wrote. | |
Austrian police insisted the arrest was not related to political events and the US justice department appealed. | |
Will the US still want to extradite Mr Firtash? | |
With the administration of Donald Trump coming to power, the Firtash case now falls into the realm of possible links between the new president's team and Russia. | |
This has already claimed one scalp - national security adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired after misleading Vice-President Mike Pence about his talks with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. | |
Mr Firtash gained much of his wealth through arrangements with Russian energy giant Gazprom. | |
His business flourished after Mr Yanukovych came to power. A key paid adviser in the president's campaign was Paul Manafort, who later became Mr Trump's election campaign adviser. | |
Mr Manafort and Mr Firtash were linked in a real estate project to redevelop the Drake Hotel site in Manhattan. | |
Mr Yanukovych's opponent, Yulia Tymoshenko, argued this was a money-laundering project to siphon huge amounts of cash out of Ukraine. | |
Mr Firtash denies this, telling Bloomberg that although he was initially interested in the project, he changed his mind. He said he "always had clean money" and called Ms Tymoshenko a liar. | |
Last August, the New York Times reported finding ledgers pledging $12.7m (£9.8m) in undisclosed cash payments from the former Russian-backed Ukrainian government to Mr Manafort between 2007 and 2012. | |
He strongly denied the claims but later resigned as Trump campaign manager. | |
The question is, if Mr Firtash were extradited, what might he do in any plea bargain? Would any information he has be damaging for the Trump administration? | |
There is no suggestion yet the US justice department will now oppose extradition - doing so would prove particularly controversial in the wake of the Flynn affair. |