Kuznetsov was extradited thanks to successful interaction between Russian, French prosecutors - Russian Prosecutor General's Office
MOSCOW. Jan 4 (Interfax) - The extradition of ex-finance minister of the Moscow region Alexei Kuznetsov from France to Russia became possible thanks to successful interaction between Russian and French prosecutors, Russian Prosecutor General's Office spokesperson Alexander Kurennoi said in reply to a question from Interfax at a press briefing in Moscow.
"On January 3, 2019, Kuznetsov was escorted to Russia by the employees of the Russian FSIN and the Interpol National Central Bureau for Russia. He had been extradited. It became possible thanks to the fact that the chiefs of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office attached great importance to international cooperation and are actively participating in it. Permanent operational interaction with French colleagues help overcome existing barriers associated with the difference between our legal systems," Kurennoi said.
"The issue of Kuznetsov's extradition was raised during the visit by Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika to France, at his talks with the minister of justice in the country," he said.
"The Kuznetsov extradition case is largely unique, in terms of its duration, it took more than five and half years, its complexity and those efforts made by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office in interaction with our French colleagues from the prosecutor's offices in Aix-en-Provence and in Lyon to bring Kuznetsov before a Russian court," Kurennoi said.