Swiss attempt Borodin deal

MOSCOW, Russia -- Former Kremlin aide Pavel Borodin is said to be ready to answer questions from Swiss investigators on money-laundering charges if he is released from detention in a New York jail.

Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Golli has said Russia promised that in exchange for withdrawing an arrest warrant against Borodin, Moscow would ensure he went to Geneva to face local justice authorities.

Russian news agencies said Moscow's U.S. ambassador Yuri Ushakov had spoken by telephone to Borodin, a former aide to ex-President Boris Yeltsin.

Borodin was detained at New York's JFK Airport under a warrant issued by Swiss authorities, who accuse him of accepting a $60 million bribe. He has already been refused bail.

The Russian RIA Novosti news agency quoted Ushakov as saying: "Pavel Borodin is staying totally calm and his mood is more or less all right.

"He denies all charges against him and says he is ready to clear up and answer any questions but only as a free man."

Ushakov told Borodin that Russia's Foreign Ministry, the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in New York were doing all they could to secure his release.

Borodin, who used to be in charge of the Kremlin's huge property empire, was suspected of taking bribes from two Swiss construction companies that won lucrative contracts to refurbish a number of state buildings.

Russia's consul-general in New York, Pavel Prokofiev, has visited Borodin in prison and called on Russia and Belarus to work for his release, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Prokofiev says Borodin was in the U.S. to attend George W. Bush's presidential inauguration ceremony on Saturday at the invitation of an American company which he declined to name.

Amid political fury in Russia at the arrest, Moscow has called on the U.S. to free Borodin and asked Switzerland to drop its extradition order against him. Borodin denies wrong-doing during his time as Kremlin property manager, when he was responsible for a vast portfolio including the Kremlin, official dachas, resorts, hotels and planes.

Borodin is the highest ranking official detained over allegations of gross financial malpractice which swirled around the Kremlin late in Boris Yeltsin's presidency.

The former leader and his two daughters were also caught up in the Mabetex probe, named after the Swiss contractor which won lucrative Kremlin refurbishment deals. Russian investigators dropped the case in December.

Borodin was moved from his Kremlin post after Vladimir Putin came to power last year and was appointed head of a special body overseeing efforts to form a Russian-Belarussian union.

The post gives him diplomatic immunity but Russian independent television reported Borodin travelled to New York on a regular passport.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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