Switzerland returned 53 million Swiss francs ($52 million) in assets stolen more than a decade ago from state-run Aeroflot, the Swiss Justice Ministry said Friday.
The money was paid into an Aeroflot account in Zurich after Russian prosecutors agreed that the funds should be returned directly to the airline, the ministry said. Those responsible for the fraud have been convicted in Russia, it said without elaborating.
When Russian authorities requested Swiss legal assistance in the case starting in 1999, Switzerland agreed to freeze bank accounts and start its own money laundering and fraud probes, the ministry said. Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court found one of the accused guilty of “abetting qualified misappropriation” in 2008, it said. None of those involved were identified.
(Bloomberg)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
