US Withdraws Request to Extradite BTC-e’s Vinnik From France, Lawyer Sees ‘Deceitful Maneuver’

U.S. authorities have withdrawn their request to extradite the alleged operator of crypto alternate BTC-e Alexander Vinnik from France, his French lawyer knowledgeable Russian media. Vinnik’s protection suspects, nonetheless, that the transfer is meant to really pace up his extradition by Greece.

Lawyer Says Washington Wants Vinnik to Remain in Prison

The United States withdrew a request submitted in 2020 to extradite Alexander Vinnik from France, in response to Frederic Belot, who’s defending him in French courts. The Russian IT specialist has served a five-year jail time period within the nation the place he was sentenced for cash laundering.

Vinnik’s worldwide protection staff has been making an attempt to safe his launch however France is extra more likely to ship him again to Greece, the place he was arrested in the summertime of 2017 on a warrant from American prosecutors who accuse him of laundering a minimum of $4 billion by the notorious cryptocurrency alternate BTC-e.

This week, Belot advised RBC Crypto that the French prosecutor’s workplace has resumed the method on the U.S. extradition request on July 1, 2022 in an effort to stop the discharge of the Russian. He believes its withdrawal is a “deceitful maneuver,” meant to make sure that Vinnik stays behind bars till he’s returned to Greece.

Greek authorities had already granted a U.S. request for extradition earlier than sending him to France. That means his return to Greece can really pace up his switch to the United States. The subsequent listening to in Vinnik’s case was rescheduled from Sept. 7 to Aug. 3, Belot additionally famous. Until then, the Russian nationwide will stay in French jail.

Belot added that in the course of the hearings on the Investigative Chamber of the court docket in Paris, Vinnik’s attorneys once more reminded the French judicial authorities that the Russian Federation had additionally despatched an extradition request to France, and far sooner than the U.S. one.

In his residence nation, Alexander Vinnik was accused in 2018 of stealing 750 million rubles ($13 million at present charges). He has acknowledged he want to return to Russia. Greek authorities extradited him to France in 2020 the place he was additionally accused of identification theft and extortion.

Do you count on Vinnik to ultimately be handed over to the United States? Share your ideas on the case within the feedback part under.