ROME, February 27. /TASS/. A Russian woman, whom the authorities in her home country are charging with embezzlement of 82 million rubles (around $ 1.37 million) and who was arrested in Italy at the beginning of last August at Interpol’s request, has asked the Italian government to grant political asylum to her.
An appeal in Irina Tyurina’s name was filed by her lawyer Pastuale Pantano.
He claimed that investigative actions over his client had been carried out in Russia with procedural violations and had allegedly pursued the goal of making her renounce her share in a joint-stock capital.
Pantano also claimed Tyurina would face judiciary persecution if the Italian authorities extradited her to Russia.
A court in Trieste endorsed her extradition earlier and the court of the highest instance is expected to pass a verdict on her on March 4.
Tyurina, 38, is a permanent resident of Prague and she came to Italy on a vacation together with her family. A mandate for placing her on an international wanted list was issued last March by Moscow City’s Tverskoi district court.
She is accused of implementing an embezzlement scheme that enabled her to obtain state loans against the pledge of property that did not belong to her. She received the loans between November 2005 and April 2006 using forged documents.
Her offence inflicted damage on her business partners.
Following a brief arrest she was released from detention on written recognizance not to leave, first in Trieste and then in Milan.