Swiss authorities have rejected an attempt by Moscow to extradite a Russian businessman caught up in an extradition brawl between Russia and the United States.

This content was published on August 30, 2021 – 11:57

August 30, 2021 – 11:57 AM

Vladislav Klyushin has been detained in Switzerland since March over an American arrest accusing him of industrial espionage – namely hacking American companies to steal data.

Klyushin owns M13, a Russian company that offers media monitoring as well as cybersecurity services. Its website says its clients include the presidential administration and the Russian government.

His detention in Switzerland was first reported by the Gotham City investigative newspaper in June, days before US President Joe Biden met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Geneva for high-level talks.

Klyushin is currently fighting the decision to extradite him to the United States. But Monday, the Tages Anzeiger The newspaper reported that the Swiss Justice Ministry rejected a rival extradition attempt from Russia on August 12.

The Swiss Keystone / SDA news agency reports that the Russian extradition request was filed on April 7, a few days before the US request of April 19.

The Justice Ministry said it rejected Russia’s request because the offenses Klyushin is accused by Moscow are incompatible with the Swiss penal code.

Klyushin is being held in a maximum security facility in southwestern Switzerland, after being arrested shortly after landing in his private jet with his family for a vacation in Switzerland.

His lawyer told Tages AnzeigerExternal link that Klyushin is unhappy to be surrounded by heavily armed guards in the prison and that he believes the US extradition attempt is politically motivated.