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Russian court rules to arrrest Ukrainian ex-lawmaker, extradition decision pending

Alexander Shepelev was put on wanted list on suspicion of "premeditated murder for mercenary motives"

Ukrainian parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) building ITAR-TASS/Artyom Geodakyan

Ukrainian parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) building

© ITAR-TASS/Artyom Geodakyan

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MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Moscow Region’s Odintsovsky City Court has arrested on Monday Ukraine’s former Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexander Shepelev pending extradition decision.

"On March 21, the court arrested Shepelev until April 28, the decision on extradition has not yet been made," acting press secretary of the court Ekaterina Igumnova told TASS.

Igumnova noted that the court denied the suspect’s request to put him under house arrest. The decision on extradition to Ukraine is expected to be made by April 28.

Interpol’s Ukrainian Bureau earlier said Russian law enforcement agencies confirmed that Shepelev had been detained. The press service of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry said that "materials were sent to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office to prepare all necessary documents for his [Shepelev’s] extradition."

Shepelev was put on wanted list on suspicion of "premeditated murder for mercenary motives."

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