Moscow: U.S. security services practically abduct Russian citizen Seleznyov in Maldives
MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Moscow has called an unfriendly step the detention in the Maldives of Russian citizen Roman Seleznyov whom the United States wants to prosecute.
"We view this incident as another unfriendly step of Washington. This is not the first time that the U.S. side has ignored the 1999bilateral treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal cases and actually abducted a Russian citizen. For instance, this has happened to Viktor Bout and Konstantin Yaroshenko who were taken to the United States by force from third countries and convicted on doubtful counts," says a commentary posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry website.
"The Russian diplomats are taking the utmost efforts to find out details of the detention of R. Seleznyov and his soonest return to the home country. We are insisting that the U.S. give coherent explanations about the incident, strictly observe the rights of the Russian citizen and give a consular access to him," the ministry said.
The commentary says Seleznyov was detained on July 5 in the international airport of the Republic of the Maldives, Male. "Later the same day U.S. security service agents forced him to board a private airline jet, which took him to the Island of Guam. This fact has been confirmed by the U.S. Department of the Interior," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Moreover, they not just fail to inform us about claims filed against our compatriots but, as it happened in the R. Seleznyov situation, they even do not inform Russian consular services about the detention. We cannot help but be indignant at the position of the Maldives authorities which acted in disregard of international legal norms and allowed security services of a third state to abduct a Russian citizen and take him away from the country. We demand that the government of the Maldives make the necessary explanations," the ministry said.
The ministry repeated its warning for Russian citizens posted on its website. "Be advised about risks presented by foreign trips in the case you have suspicions the U.S. law enforcement authorities may file certain claims against you."
