The former Russian banker Oleg Schigajew, who has been fighting extradition from Switzerland to Russia on embezzlement charges, can stay in the Alpine country as legal proceedings against him have been stopped.
This content was published on
2 minutes
NZZ am Sonntag/sb
Português
pt
Ex-banqueiro evita deportação para a Rússia devido à guerra na Ucrânia
On Sunday, the NZZ am Sonntag confirmedExternal link an earlier report by the Gotham City news site that the Federal Office of Justice had stopped extradition proceedings and that Schigajew was no longer subject to restrictions to his freedom of movement.
The former co-owner of the Baltic Bank in St Petersburg is wanted in Russia for allegedly embezzling CHF50 million ($50.5 million). He denies the allegations and says there is no chance of a fair trial in Russia.
He was arrested in September 2021 in Switzerland, where he has been living for several years with his family. The former banker has vehemently opposed his extradition, which the Swiss Federal Court confirmed last autumn. Following his arrest last year, he reportedly stabbed himself in the stomach and had to be treated in hospital. He then went on hunger strikeExternal link until the outbreak of the war in Ukraine earlier this year. This delayed his planned deportation, NZZ said.
War in Ukraine
On Sunday, the NZZ reported that the war in Ukraine had been instrumental in the decision of the Swiss authorities not to deport the ex-banker to Russia.
“With Russia’s departure from the Council of Europe, an important institutional framework that guarantees the oversight of human rights will be lost,” the justice office said. “Against this backdrop, Switzerland will suspend legal assistance to Russia until further notice.”
As a result, deportations to Russia are in general no longer possible.
Switzerland is striving for “an approach that is coordinated internationally and in particular with the European partner countries”, the office added. “As soon as the situation allows for a reassessment, the Federal Office of Justice, as the supervisory authority, will inform the legal assistance authorities.”
According to a recent report by the NZZExternal link , the suspension of legal assistance affects around 50 requests for legal assistance from Russia to Switzerland and around eight requests from Switzerland to Russia.
Two decades after tsunami, Swiss tourists flock to Southeast Asia
This content was published on
Twenty years after a catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia, the region is again a top destination for Swiss, including at Christmas.
Swiss forests better equipped for storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years after Hurricane Lothar wreaked havoc in Switzerland, the country’s forests are now better prepared, experts say.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
Swiss prosecutor to shut down Russian money laundering probe
This content was published on
For nine years, Swiss prosecutors have been investigating allegations that Russian officials defrauded the investment fund Hermitage Capital. Some CHF18 million related to the probe has been frozen in Swiss banks, but it now looks like most of this amount will be returned to Russia. The case has drawn international headlines and condemnation following the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.