Development in the Extradition Case of Fugitive to Russia for Theft from Space Program
August 17, 2026
The Court of Appeal decided to extradite a man to Russia, facing charges of stealing millions from a Russian space program's state funding. He was arrested in Cyprus in November 2024, and a previous extradition request had been denied by the local court. Russian authorities claim that at least €7.8 million was illegally funneled from the program. The extradition decision by the appellate court was made on August 11, 2026, reversing the earlier ruling. The case raises concerns about mismanagement of public funds.