WASHINGTON, August 9 (RIA Novosti) – Russian citizen Roman Seleznev, who was charged with cyber-fraud by US authorities, was escorted from US island of Guam to Seattle, Washington, a spokeswoman for Washington’s Western District attorney Emily Langley told RIA Novosti.
“Mr. Seleznev has arrived in Seattle and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle later in the day. The hearing will be in front of Magistrate Judge John Weinberg on the 12th floor of the courthouse at 700 Stewart Street,” Langley said.
Earlier, the court in Guam ruled that the case should be taken to the court in the state of Washington, where Seleznev was charged.
Seleznev was detained on July 5 at an airport in the Maldives and flown to the US island of Guam.
Seleznev’s defense asked for his release, saying that the Russian citizen was illegally detained outside US jurisdiction.
The prosecution disagreed, saying Seleznev was arrested in Guam, but did not explain how he got there from the Maldives.
Seleznev faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of bank fraud, while the other charges also carry significant sentences.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called the incident an unfriendly move by the United States and a de facto kidnapping, while the government of the Maldives promised to review the legal framework leading up to Seleznev’s arrest.
