THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) \u2014 A Greek court ruled Wednesday to extradite Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik to the United States, where he is wanted in connection with a $4 billion bitcoin fraud case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three-member panel of judges in the northern city of Thessaloniki backed the U.S. extradition request for the 37-year-old, who was arrested while on vacation in northern Greece on July 25. Soon after the decision, Vinnik\u2019s lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court on behalf of their client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia is also seeking Vinnik\u2019s extradition on separate fraud charges. A hearing on that request will be heard in Thessaloniki on Oct. 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While fighting his extradition to the U.S., Vinnik\u2019s lawyers said he would not contest the Russian request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final decision on any extradition case is taken by the justice minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have not seen the formal decision and we\u2019ll wait for it to come out before making comment,\u201d Vinnik\u2019s lawyer Alexandros Lykourezos said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have taken immediate action and appealed the ruling and the case will be examined by the criminal division of the Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. authorities accuse Vinnik of running digital currency exchange BTC-e and of involvement in laundering money from criminal proceeds, charges he denies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking during Wednesday\u2019s hearing, Vinnik repeated that he had nothing to do with the digital platform he is accused of running to commit the bitcoin fraud. He said he was merely a technician and the platform was one of his clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have nothing to do with what I am accused of,\u201d he told the judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vinnik said electronic equipment confiscated during his arrest was not related to his job, and that the laptop seized by police contained only cartoons for his children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elena Becatoros in Athens contributed.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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