VILNIUS, August 26 (RAPSI) – Russia has granted asylum to Vladimir Romanov, the main shareholder in Lithuanian Ukio Bankas, who is suspected of large-scale embezzlement, and will not extradite him, Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office said on Monday.

Lithuanian prosecutors want to question him about the alleged embezzlement of 50 million litas (EUR 14.5 million) from Ukio Bankas  which ran into financial trouble and placed in administration.

The Lithuanian Central Bank restrained operations at Ukio Bankas in February 2013. Its banking license was revoked, and Lithuanian authorities provided 230 million euros to pay its depositors.
Romanov left Lithuania in May 2013 and was put on an international wanted list in August.

He was detained in Russia in April, but soon released, following the ruling of the Moscow City Court.

Lithuanian prosecutors said that the investigation into the alleged embezzlement would continue.