Referee: US request was an attempt to eliminate the policy of Ukraine Firtash – RIA Novosti

VIENNA, May 1 – RIA Novosti. The judge of the Regional Court of Vienna in criminal matters Christophe Bauer, commenting on his decision to reject the US request for the extradition of Ukrainian businessman Dmitry Firtash, said Washington, in accordance with their interests, tried to eliminate a businessman from the political life of the country.

“My summary: for one year in Ukraine does two politically sensitive phase (Maidan and presidential elections). In these two phases of the United States decided to eliminate from the political life of a man who did not meet the interests of the United States. This fact I can not close their eyes “, – said the judge.

Bauer said that Firtash” is an influential figure in the Ukraine in the field of gas and titanium and in this context the gas – is a policy. ”

Lawyers billionaire said that Firtash prosecution in the United States, where he is accused of bribing an Indian policy in order to obtain a license for the development of titanium deposits, was politically motivated and called “geopolitical game” between the US and Russia for influence in Ukraine. According to them, supported by defense witnesses, Firtash got in sight of the United States, when he became a mediator in gas exports from Russia. Then it is gaining market share strategically important raw materials of titanium, and later political support first Viktor Yanukovych, then Vitali Klitschko, who were undesirable for the US presidential candidates in Ukraine.

As witnesses at the trial were the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, the former head of the presidential administration Sergei Lyovochkin, former Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko. The mayor of Kiev Vitali Klitschko gave evidence via video link in a private meeting when journalists and other observers of the court session had been removed from the hall.

During the meeting itself Firtash and witnesses discussed the role of the oligarchs in the political struggle between the Maidan after fleeing Yanukovych, insisting that he was politically influential figure and was in conflict with the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and also played for the equal relations of Ukraine with the European Union and Russia.