MOSCOW, July 27 (UPI) — Russia has asked Interpol to explain why it turned down its request to locate and arrest William Browder, head of Hermitage Capital.
Interpol, an international police organization, said Friday it could not be used by Russia to pursue Browder, who has been convicted in absentia by a Russian court on charges of fraud and tax evasion, RIA Novosti reported.
“Russian Interior Ministry continues to consider Interpol an organization that makes decision in the framework of international law and its Constitution, and doesn’t apply political decision or value judgments,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement Saturday. “In this connection, the Interior Ministry expects to receive exhaustive explanations of Interpol General Secretariat’s position.”
Browder was banned from Russia in 2005 and has since been living in Britain.
Britain had previously rejected Moscow’s extradition request for Browder, a United Kingdom national, citing the absence of extradition agreement with Russia.