Evgeny Adamov, former atomic energy minister of Russia
Photo: Valery Levitin
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The Acquittal Accomplice
Yesterday, the Federal Grand Jury in Pittsburg implicitly acquitted Evgeny Adamov, former Russia’s minister of atomic energy, charged with embezzling some $9 million appropriated by Washington to help Moscow fund nuclear safety projects.
Adamov’s acquittal could be predicted in view of the verdict passed for another accused in the case, Mark Kaushansky, former nuclear engineer at Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The two men were indicted by the Federal Grand Jury in Pittsburg on charges of stealing and laundering money appropriated for a nuclear safety program funded by the United States.
Kaushansky was charged with collusion with Adamov and was the key witness of prosecutors under his case.
Adamov was arrested in Bern, Switzerland, in spring of 2005. Both the United States and Russia filed extradition requests, and Switzerland upheld Moscow, where a criminal case was also initiated against Adamov. Former atomic energy minister safely returned to his homeland December 2005 after spending eight months in the remand prison of Bern.
Meanwhile, Kaushansky admitted the guilt under nine counts related to tax evasion but omitting misappropriation of $9 million in nuclear funds mentioned in the initial accusation. Kaushansky clinched a deal with prosecutors and got no more than 15 months in prison for failure to pay taxes. He was freed from all other charges, including stealing the nuclear money. For Adamov, of vital importance is that the verdict mentions no Adamov-Kaushansky collusion.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 29, 2007
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