Ukrainian billionaire faces extradition to U.S., Austrian court rules

Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Ukrainian billionaire Dmitro Firtash can be extradited to the United States to face corruption charges, an Austrian court ruled Tuesday.

Firtash, who made his fortune in Ukraine's gas, chemicals and television industries, has strong ties to Russia and was a close ally of Ukraine's pro-Russia former president, Viktor Yanukovych. The Austrian Higher Regional Court approved a U.S. request to extradite him after a lower court judge said in 2015 the request was at least partly politically motivated. Although the final decision rests with the Austrian justice minister, Tuesday's ruling likely begins the process of extradition.

Firtash, 51, has lived in Austria since 2014. He was indicted by a U.S. grand jury for his alleged involvement in paying $18.5 million in bribes to Indian officials, through U.S. banks, to facilitate a $500 million titanium mining project in India. He denied the charges, calling them politically motivated by the United States.

"In February of 2014, the U.S. wanted to remove Mr. Firtash from the geopolitical and from the Ukrainian domestic game," defense lawyer Christian Hausmaninger said in the lower court proceedings. "Mr. Firtash stood in the way of U.S. interests in Ukraine."

U.S. prosecutors, in 2015 court filings, submitted wiretaps they said demonstrated Firtash's involvement with organized crime.

Judge Leo Levniac-Iwanski said Tuesday there was sufficient evidence to establish suspicion, which is the basis for extradition. He added the argument of Firtash's defense team, of political motivation, only applies in crimes at least partly political, and not criminal.

"It wasn't for us to judge whether Mr. Firtash was guilty, but only whether the extradition is allowed. This decision only means that another country will make a decision whether he is guilty," Levniac-Iwanski said.