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A former Russian energy minister accused by federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh of stealing millions in U.S. funds was found guilty Tuesday in a Moscow court of fraud and abuse of office. Yevgeny Adamov, who served as nuclear power minister from 1998 to 2001, could be sentenced today, according to The Associated Press. Prosecutors have asked for a nine-year sentence. U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan's office will monitor the outcome of the Russian case before deciding how to pursue Adamov's pending charges here, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice. Prosecutors have stated previously that they doubt...

Russians fear nuclear expert will spill secrets By Jason Cato TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, November 27, 2005 Hardly talked about here, the possible extradition of a former Russian nuclear energy minister to face federal charges in Pittsburgh makes the national news every few days there, observers say. That's because many Russians are convinced the United States is after Yevgeny Adamov for the secrets he harbors, not the laws he allegedly broke. "The Russians clearly have a very deep anger about this and feel like we're abusing our relationship," said Marshall Goldman, associate director of Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian...

A delegation from the U.S. Attorney's Office was in Moscow on Thursday for confidential talks about the case of former Nuclear Power Minister Yevgeny Adamov, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said Thursday. A Swiss court ruled Monday to extradite Adamov to the United States, shunning a rival extradition request from Russia. Embassy spokeswoman Courtney Austrian said she could not say what was discussed or the length of the visit. A source at the Prosecutor General's Office said prosecutors had met the delegation, which was led by U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan, Interfax reported. "In the course of talks, questions are being...

Former Nuclear Power Minister Yevgeny Adamov will be represented in U.S. courts by a former lawyer for former U.S. President Bill Clinton, the lawyer's office said Tuesday. The Washington law firm of Covington & Burling said Lanny Breuer, who represented Clinton during impeachment hearings and a trial in 1998 and 1999, had been retained by Adamov and would represent him in court if he were extradited to the United States. "Our team is of course very busy on the case, and Lenny Breuer is the head of it," said John Smith, a lawyer with the firm. A Swiss court ruled...

Former Russian nuclear energy minister Yevgeny Adamov is to be extradited from Switzerland to the United States, the Swiss justice ministry has announced. Russia has been fighting the move for fear his detailed knowledge of the country's nuclear weapons programme could fall into US hands. The US accuses Mr Adamov of embezzling up to $9m (£4.9m) it gave to improve security at Russian nuclear facilities. The nuclear physicist was arrested in Switzerland in May 2005. Hunger strike Mr Adamov, who was Russia's nuclear minister from 1998 to 2001, denies the charges and has said he would prefer to be extradited...