MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti) -US authorities did not inform Russian diplomats about removing Russian national Roman Seleznev, who was charged with cyber-fraud by US authorities, from US island of Guam to Seattle, Washington, Russian Consul General in Seattle Andrey Yushmanov told RIA Novosti.
“American side once again does something first and only then deigns to inform us,” he said.
Consul General added that Russia will demand from the United States to provide detailed information on its further actions towards Russian national.
A spokeswoman for Washington’s Western District attorney Emily Langley told RIA Novosti earlier on Friday that Roman Seleznev was convoyed from Guam to Seattle, Washington.
“Mr. Seleznev has arrived in Seattle and will make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle later in the day,” she 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.
