Firtash’s US attorney Lanny Davis said in a press release on Saturday evening that he wanted to help defend his homeland. Firtash is unreservedly opposed to the Russian invasion of his native Ukraine, Davis stressed. His client is not demanding a formal change in his status in the extradition proceedings and he would come back to Austria after the end of the state of emergency in Ukraine if requested. “Mr. Firtash simply wants to return to his homeland to help her in this time of crisis,” he wrote.
Prosecutors in Chicago have accused Firtash of alleged bribes related to a titanium deal in India that never materialized and have been demanding his extradition since 2014. After this had been declared admissible by the Supreme Court (OGH) in the summer of 2019 and the then Minister of Justice Clemens Jabloner had also given the necessary approval, a reopening application by Firtash’s defense attorneys at the Regional Court (LG) Vienna prevented the Ukrainian’s threatened transfer to the USA . The defenders had repeatedly described the allegations as politically motivated.
After long delays, which have been linked to extensive submissions by the defense, restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and changes in judges, a decision by the regional court was actually expected to be made soon. However, this has not happened so far, a court spokeswoman confirmed in early February.
Source: Nachrichten
