The judge of the Land court of Vienna in criminal cases Christoph Bauer, explaining its decision to reject U.S. request for the extradition of Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash, said Washington, based on their interests, tried to eliminate the entrepreneur from the political life of Ukraine.

"My portfolio: within one year in Ukraine there are two politically acute phase (Maidan And presidential elections). And so in 2 phases, the United States decided to eliminate from the political life of a man who did not conform to the interests of the United States. In this case I can't close my eyes, " said the Judge.

Bauer said that Firtash is an influential figure in Ukraine in the field of gas And titanium, And in this context, the gas is politics ".

Lawyers for the billionaire said that the prosecution Firtash in the USA, where he is accused of bribing Indian politicians in order to obtain a license for the development of titanium deposits, was politically motivated And called a "geopolitical game" between the US And Russia for influence in Ukraine. They claimed, supported by witness protection, Firtash has come to the attention of the USA, when he became a mediator in the export of gas from Russia. Then it has gained increasing market share of strategically important raw materials of titanium, and Then provided political support first, Viktor Yanukovych, and then Vitali Klitschko, who were undesirable for the U.S. presidential candidates in Ukraine.

in the form of witnesses at the trial were the 1st head of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, the former head of the presidential administration, Serhiy Lyovochkin, former Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko. The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko gave evidence via video link in a closed meeting when reporters And other observers of the trial were removed from the hall.

in the process of meeting Firtash And witnesses discussed the role of oligarchs in the political battle in the period of the Maidan And after Yanukovych fled, insisting that he was politically influential figure And was in conflict with the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and also advocated for equal relations of Ukraine with the European Union And Russia.

sections: Politics