A court in the U.S. territory of Guam has approved a request to extradite a Russian lawmaker's son to Seattle to face hacking charges.
Roman Seleznev, 30, was detained in the Maldives in early July and handed over to U.S. officials in Guam. Seleznev is accused of involvement in the hacking and selling of U.S. credit card data between 2009 and 2011, causing more than $1 million in damages.
Seleznev's lawyer, Patrick Civille, petitioned the court in Guam to drop the charges, saying the arrest was unlawful.
"The U.S. does not have the right to circumvent the Maldivian judiciary," Civille was cited as saying in court by the BBC's Russian service.
Civille also argued that the name Roman Seleznev was common in Russia, and that investigators lacked sufficient evidence that they had arrested the right man.
On Thursday, however, the court turned down Civille's request and granted the prosecutors' extradition request.
The arrest of Seleznev and his transfer to Guam has prompted outcry from Moscow officials, with the Foreign Ministry describing the arrest as a "de facto kidnapping of a Russian citizen" and "another unfriendly move by Washington" in a statement last month.
Seleznev's father Valery is a prominent State Duma deputy.
See also:
Russian Diplomats in Guam Fight for Release of 'Kidnapped' Politician's Son
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.
