Borodin drops extradition fight

Pavel Borodin has been held in the U.S. since January

NEW YORK, U.S. (CNN) -- A former Kremlin official arrested in New York in January on money laundering charges has called off a fight against being extradited to Switzerland for trial.

Pavel Borodin, 54, who was Kremlin property manager under former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, is accused of being involved in millions of dollars in bribes paid by Swiss firms in exchange for contracts to renovate Kremlin buildings.

Borodin told a U.S. court on Monday that he was ending his fight against extradition after being refused bail.

"I do not wish to remain in prison in the United States and thus I agree that the case of my extradition will not be heard," said Borodin, speaking through an interpreter.

"My decision is based solely upon my desire to be set free as soon as possible and with my reputation unstained."

He continued to insist he is innocent of all crimes and did not violate Swiss or Russian law.

Russian prosecutors have dropped charges against him, but Swiss prosecutors still want him to bring him to trial.

Borodin's lawyer, Barry Kingham, said he expects Swiss authorities to transfer his client to Switzerland sometime this week.

Until then, Borodin, who was taken to a New York hospital last month after suffering from an undisclosed illness, will remain in custody in Brooklyn.

He has been held in detention since his arrest on a Swiss warrant at Kennedy International Airport as he travelled to the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Under Yeltsin, Borodin headed the department responsible for all property owned by the Kremlin.

He was suspected of taking $60 million in bribes from two Swiss companies that won lucrative contracts for elaborate renovation of Kremlin buildings.

The contracts, according to the arrest warrant, allegedly totaled $10 million.

President Vladimir Putin worked under Borodin in 1996 and 1997.

When Putin replaced Yeltsin as president, he moved Borodin to a new job -- State Secretary of the Russian-Belorussian Union, which gave him diplomatic immunity.

Yeltsin aide, held in N.Y., hospitalized
March 13, 2001
Russian official denied U.S. bail
March 10, 2001
Putin pledge to free Borodin
January 23, 2001
Swiss attempt Borodin deal
January 20, 2001
Russia demands release of Yeltsin aide
January 18, 2001
Putin shuffles top of Russian government
January 10, 2000

Swiss Ministry of Justice
US Department of State
Russian Government

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