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Artyom Uss, detained in Italy, objects to extradition to US — lawyer

Earlier, the governor of the Krasnoyarsk Region, Alexander Uss, said that the charges against his son had a political connotation

ROME, October 21. /TASS/. Russian citizen Artyom Uss, son of the Krasnoyarsk governor, Alexander Uss, detained in Italy at the US request has told the judge he objects to his extradition to the United States. Artyom Uss’s lawyer, Vinicio Nardo, told TASS on Friday that earlier the court held an identity verification procedure.

"Today's meeting was dedicated specifically to the identification of the person. Then he was asked if he wanted to be extradited. My client refused," said Nardo, the president of the Milan Bar Association.

In the near future the defense will file a petition for the release of Uss from custody. According to the lawyer, the option of house arrest is being considered, because the detainee has a business of his own in Italy. "Now we are clearing up the details," Nardo said.

No materials from the United States confirming that Uss has been charged with sanctions evasion and money laundering have been received by the Italian judiciary yet. Formulating a request for extradition is the prerogative of the prosecutor's office. It will be considered by the Court of Appeal. The whole procedure may take up to six months.

US authorities on Wednesday brought sanctions evasion and money laundering charges against five Russian citizens, including Artyom Uss, who was detained in Italy. The US Department of Justice said preparations for their extradition to the United States was underway. If found guilty, Uss and the other accused will face up to 30 years in prison. Earlier, the Russian embassy in Italy said that Uss had been detained at Milan Malpensa Airport.

The governor of the Krasnoyarsk Region, Alexander Uss, said earlier that the charges against his son had a political connotation. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow would not leave the US law enforcement and special services’ hunt for Russian citizens unretaliated.

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