The Italian Ministry of Justice has opened an investigation into three Italian judges who approved preventive house arrest against Russian citizen Artem Uss, who was threatened with extradition to the United States and later fled to Russia . This was reported to Reuters by two knowledgeable sources.
In the United States, Artem Uss, the son of the governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Uss, is accused of financial crimes: trade in electronics and Venezuelan oil in circumvention of sanctions, money laundering and bank fraud.
Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has accused Milan appeals court judges of “gross and inexcusable negligence” for placing Uss under house arrest in November 2022, despite opposition from the public prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors pointed to the suspect’s large financial resources and the real danger of Uss fleeing the country.
Reuters sources noted that this is a rare case of Italy’s Justice Ministry drawing attention to technical procedural decisions made by the judiciary, independent of the executive branch.
The demonstrative escape from Italy of Alexander Uss, whose extradition was requested simultaneously by the United States and Russia, aroused strong criticism in Italy. The judges’ decision was particularly criticized by the country’s head of government, Georgia Meloni. The Milan Court of Appeal replied that the prosecution and the Ministry of Justice could appeal the decision.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio is expected to address the country’s parliament on Thursday with a report on the case.
Artem Uss was arrested at Milan airport on October 17, 2022 at the request of the US Department of Justice. US authorities believe USS companies purchased electronic devices and sent them to Russia from manufacturers on the sanctions list. In particular, we are talking about modern semiconductors and microprocessors that are used in Russian combat aircraft, missile systems, guided munitions, radars and satellites.
Uss pleaded not guilty and refused voluntary extradition to the United States. On October 29, 2022, the Meshchansky Court in Moscow ruled that Artyom Uss had been arrested in absentia on suspicion of money laundering, and Russia said it would seek Uss’ extradition as well.
On November 28, 2022, a court in Milan placed the suspect under house arrest until his case was examined and his extradition to the United States was decided.
In January 2023, Uss appealed to the court with a request for extradition to Russia on the pretext of possible discrimination in a US prison.
On March 21, it was learned that a court in Milan had given the green light to Uss’s extradition to the United States.
The following day, Uss escaped from house arrest at his home in Basiglio, on the outskirts of Milan, by cutting off his electronic bracelet. By the time the police arrived at his home, he had already fled.
In early April, Artem Uss said in an interview with Russian media that he was in Russia.
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