Ukraine demands Greece arrest Russian citizen.
A Russian energy expert – economist Yevgeny Kalinin – has been detained in Greece at the request of Ukraine, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
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Russian energy expert Ievgueni Kalinin. Photo: RT |
Kalinin's lawyer, Yannis Rakhiotis, said his client was arrested and detained on February 28 at Athens Airport. A hearing was held on March 1, and Kalinin was taken to Korydallos prison until Ukraine officially submitted an extradition request to Greece.
The lawyer for the Russian expert called the arrest a political issue. "Late last Thursday evening, Russian energy expert Ievgueni Kalinin was arrested at Athens Airport. The arrest was made at the request of Ukraine. Mr. Kalinin had come to Greece on a business trip. He is a well-known oil expert," lawyer Rakhiotis explained.
Lawyer Yannis Rakhiotis said Kyiv accused Yevgeny Kalinin of tax evasion while working in Ukraine. "However, that's a political issue. Kalinin is on the list of people being sued in Ukraine for working for companies allegedly controlled by relatives of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych," Rakhiotis said.
"This Russian citizen is in mortal danger if he is extradited to Ukraine," lawyer Rakhiotis added.
The Russian embassy in Greece said it had provided full support to Yevgeny Kalinin. The Kremlin has not yet commented on the arrest.