Unofficial translation from Russian

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Regarding the Decision by the Swiss Federal Department of Justice to Extradite Ex-Head of the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry Yevgeny Adamov to the United States

Today it became known that the Switzerland's Federal Department of Justice had resolved on the extradition of Yevgeny Adamov to the United States.

This decision will take effect if within 30 days Adamov does not lodge an appeal to the Supreme Court of Switzerland. The Swiss authorities claim that only then will it become possible to prosecute Adamov whether in Russia or the US. Supposedly the US will be able, after completion the criminal prosecution of Adamov, to deport him to Russia. Whereas Russia, in case of extradition of Adamov to it, will not be able to extradite him to the US, as he is a Russian citizen.

This decision arouses bewilderment.

First of all, we presume that in the presence of competing well-substantiated extradition requests, the state of the citizenship of the person whose extradition is being requested has an advantage.

There also were other factors in favor of Adamov's extradition to Russia, which the Swiss side was well aware of. We, in particular, drew attention to the fact that as a former government member Yevgeny Adamov has immunity from criminal jurisdiction of a foreign state in respect of the acts committed by him in his official capacity. All the requested information was provided to the Federal Department of Justice by the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia, including that on cooperation by the Prosecutor General's Office with the US Department of Justice on this matter. The Swiss side was informed of the consultations that are due this week between the representatives of the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia and the US Department of Justice with regard to Adamov.

A few days ago Russia expressed the hope that the decision on Yevgeny Adamov's extradition would be legally, not politically motivated. Regrettably, that did not occur. Moscow is expressing concern over the fact that the Federal Department of Justice has taken a decision which is at variance with legal and objective circumstances.

October 3, 2005