Telegraph
14Mar2014
Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash faces extradition
Dmitry Firtash, with links to Cambridge University and senior Tories, is placed in 'extradition custody' after being held on suspicion of breaching bribery laws and forming a criminal organisation
A Ukrainian oligarch who has donated 5.4 million to Cambridge University and has links to senior Conservatives is facing possible extradition to the US after being arrested at the request of the FBI.
Dmitry Firtash was held in Austria on suspicion of breaching bribery laws and forming a criminal organisation in the course of foreign business deals.
At a court appearance in Vienna yesterday, bail was set at 125 million euros (104m) pending a decision on whether he will be sent to the US to stand trial. The court is waiting for the FBI to send more details about the alleged offences.
Mr Firtash has denied the allegations and his company described the matter as a misunderstanding.
Mr Firtash, who has close links to Russia through gas trading, has in recent years curried favour in Britain by paying for a cultural festival in London and setting up a Ukrainian Studies department at Cambridge University.
He also set up a scholarship scheme to enable Ukrainians to study for masters degrees at Cambridge.
In 2011 the University made him a member of the Guild of Cambridge Benefactors to thank him for his 5.4 million donations in recent years, and he attended a ceremony at which he was presented with his membership certificate by the Duke of Edinburgh.
The website of the Firtash Foundation, Mr Firtashs private charity fund, includes photographs of him with Prof Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the University, and with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Mr Firtash, 48, also has links to John Whittingdale MP, the Conservative chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, and Lord Risby, a former vice-chairman of the Conservative Party and shadow minister for Financial Services.
The energy magnate, whose wealth has been estimated at anything between 400 million and 3 billion, sponsored the Days of Ukraine cultural festival in London last October, the launch of which was hosted by Mr Whittingdale in Parliament.
Mr Whittingdale is also a director of the British Ukrainian Society, which has paid his expenses on trips to Ukraine. Lord Risby is chairman of BUS, whose other directors include Robert Shelter-Jones, former chief executive of Mr Firtashs Group DF and a current member of the firms supervisory council.
On the day of the launch of the Days of Ukraine festival, Mr Firtash was invited to open trading at the London Stock Exchange, which led to angry demonstrations in the City by British-based Ukrainians who have accused him of media censorship.
Undeterred, Mr Firtash visited the Foreign Office on Feb 24 to meet officials and appeal for financial support for Ukraine and its businesses in the wake of the recent upheaval.
Austrias Federal Crime Agency said Mr Firtash was arrested on Wednesday at the request of the FBI and that he was being held in a detention centre in Vienna.
Mr Firtashs business interests in gas trading and chemicals thrived under the ousted president Viktor Yanukovich, and his is the highest-profile arrest since the countrys turmoil began last month.
A spokesman for Group DF said the allegations appeared to be related to an investment project in India in 2006.
The spokesman said: We know that the actions of the law enforcement organs of Austria in relation to Dmitry Firtash are not linked with the situation in Ukraine, not with the activity of the Group in Europe and America but relate to an investment project in 2006.
"We are sure that the present incident is a misunderstanding and will be resolved very soon."
Timothy Ash, an analyst for Standard Bank, suggested the arrest was linked to the geopolitics surrounding Ukraine.
"It sends a strong message to Russia that the West is willing to go down the financial sanctions route unless it backtracks over Crimea and over broader policy towards Ukraine," he said.
A University of Cambridge spokesman said: We are aware of the situation. It would be inappropriate to comment further until this matter is resolved. The benefaction from the DF Foundation is used solely for educational purposes and the Foundation has no influence over its allocation.
Mr Whittingdale said: I know very little about what has been alleged but obviously the legal process must take its course. Lord Risby was unavailable for comment.
===========================
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Apr 01 2014 - 00:58:15 EST