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Russian, detained in Finland, can’t be extradited to US — Russian Foreign Ministry

Detention of Russian citizen at the Finland-Russia border is a regular manifestation of the illegal practice of US authorities to detain Russian nationals in other countries, a Russian diplomat says

MOSCOW, August 26. /TASS/. Moscow proceeds from the assumption that a Russian national, detained in Finland on a request from the US Department of Justice, can’t be extradited to the United States, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s commissioner for human rights, democracy and rule of law, Konstantin Dolgov, said Wednesday.

"Detention of Russian citizen M. Senakh at the border when he was leaving Finland for Russia is a regular manifestation of the illegal practice to detain Russian nationals in other countries, launched by the American authorities," Dolgov said.

"It is evident that if the talk was about the necessity to stop criminal activity, it would be more logical to first send relevant information to the country of citizenship of the suspect, the more so as Russia and the United States have a contractual framework for cooperation in the criminal and legal sphere. But it is not being done," the commissioner said.

"We are expecting Finland’s competent authorities to strictly observe all constitutional guarantees, international law norms in the sphere of human rights and consular relations regarding Russian citizen Senakh," he said.

"We are proceeding from the assumption that Senakh can’t be extradited to the United States," Dolgov said.

Russia’s Embassy in Finland is taking all possible measures to settle the situation, is in constant contact with Senakh and his lawyers," he said.