MOSCOW, May 3 - RAPSI. Former prosecutor Alexander Ignatenko faces no threats in Russia, Vladimir Markin, the Investigative Committee's official representative, said on Thursday.
Poland is considering Russia's request to extradite Ignatenko.
Ignatenko has no grounds to fear for his life and security, Kommersant newspaper wrote on Thursday.
On January 1, Polish police detained the former Moscow Region Deputy Prosecutor at the Zakopane ski resort, where he arrived using a false passport. The Nowy Sacz District Court ruled to have him placed under a temporary 40-day arrest until February 9.
Ignatenko attempted to challenge the decision and to obtain his release on his own recognizance and a $40,000 bail, but the court extended his arrest for another four months.
The final decision on Ignatenko's extradition is likely to be taken by Justice Minister Jaroslaw Gowin.
The former prosecutor was placed on the international wanted list in connection with a notorious Moscow gambling case. Businessman Ivan Nazarov allegedly operated illegal casinos in 15 towns across the Moscow Region.
According to law enforcement authorities, several high-ranking officials in the regional prosecutor's offices and the Interior Ministry were involved in the casino operation, which generated between $5 million and $10 million in revenue monthly.
Meanwhile, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights is concerned by Ignatenko's possible extradition to Russia.
The media reported that the foundation has already gone to the European Court for Human Rights, alleging that if Ignatenko's is extradited he might be subject to reprisal.
In a previous statement, Polish Deputy Justice Minister Mikhail Krulikovsku told RIA Novosti that he plans to meet with a number of NGO representatives, including those of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, involved in Ignatenko's case.