MOSCOW, January 20 (RAPSI) – Russian citizen Nail Malyutin, who stands charged with embezzling 253 million rubles ($4.3 million), has been extradited from Austria, Alexander Kurennoy, a spokesman for the Prosecutor General’s Office, told journalists on Friday.

According to Kurennoy, Malyutin has stolen the money from the Financial leasing company (a company with public ownership) by concluding a sham contract on the purchase and sale of civil aircraft.

Malyutin absconded during the investigation and was put on the international wanted list. Russia sent to Austria a request for his extradition in December 2014. Kurennoy noted that the Prosecutor General’s Office has repeatedly provided explanations and supplementary guarantees of respect for Malyutin’s rights to Austrian authorities.

In March 2016, Austrian Minister of Justice Wolfgang Brandstetter backed up the court ruling to extradite the Russian national. This decision was appealed. The appeal was dismissed in December 2016.

Malyutin was handed over to the Russian law enforcement officers in the airport of Vienna on January 20.