Russian investigators on Monday lifted abduction charges against fugitive telecoms entrepreneur Yevgeny Chichvarkin after what has been widely viewed as a politically motivated case.
"I have just received a copy of the decision [by the Russian Investigative Committee] to drop the criminal case against Yevgeny Chichvarkin," the businessman's lawyer, Yury Gervis, told RIA Novosti.
Russia has been seeking the extradition of Chichvarkin, the former CEO of cell phone retailer Euroset, since he fled to Britain in 2008. He was accused of kidnapping an employee, and of blackmail.
The Westminster Magistrates Court in London has invariably blocked Chichvarkin's extradition, saying he was unlikely to get a fair trial at home.
Chichvarkin said last week he would return home if the Russian Prosecutor General's Office annulled the extradition warrant.
The 36-year-old businessman remains on Interpol's wanted list.
MOSCOW, January 24 (RIA Novosti)
