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Lithuanian court turns down appeal not to extradite Russian to USA

The USA accuses Russian Dmitry Ustinov of dual purpose equipment trafficking

Photo ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva

Photo ITAR-TASS/Marina Lystseva

VILNIUS, August 14 (Itar-Tass) - A court in Lithuania on Wednesday turned down the appeal not to extradite to the USA Russian citizen Dmitry Ustinov, suspected of illegal weapon trade.

"No circumstances have been ascertained which would prevent his extradition to the USA. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. The extradition might take place within the next ten days," a court official said.

The derfence claimed that the court's decision was formal. "The extradition ruling is biased," lawyer Drasutis Zagreckas noted. The purchase of night vision and thermal imagery devices for which Ustinov is being prosecuted is not illegal in Lithuania.

Ustinov was detained at the Vilnius airport in mid-April at U.S. request. The USA accuses him of dual purpose equipment trafficking. If found guilty, the Russian might face up to 20 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Moscow expressed serious concerns over the USA's practice to request third countries to extradite Russian citizens. Russian foreign ministry representative for human rights, democracy and supremacy of law Konstantin Dolgov said "the substance of the claims against the Russian raises doubts."

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