As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires Gary Robbins
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
July 25, 2013
We wish to thank the Russian Federation for raising the issue of extradition. As a matter of policy, the US government does not comment on specific extradition cases. However, we note that extradition is a product of bilateral law enforcement cooperation governed by the bilateral extradition treaties in place between the United States and partner countries.
The United States comports with the applicable legal requirements under both domestic and international law in all extradition matters.
The bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) between the United States and Russia provides for bilateral cooperation on criminal matters, but it does not provide for extradition. The US-Russia MLAT does not govern US extradition relationships with third countries.
We categorically reject any suggestion of bias on the basis of nationality in our judicial process.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
