Ex-Yeltsin aide arrives in Geneva

Borodin insists he is not guilty

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Former Kremlin aide Pavel Borodin has been flown to Switzerland to face money-laundering charges.

The confidante of ex-President Boris Yeltsin arrived in Geneva early on Saturday after deciding not to contest attempts to extradite him from the United States.

A Geneva judge is expected formally to indict him later in the day.

Borodin was arrested in New York, on an international warrant, as he flew in to attend the inauguration of President George W. Bush in January.

He is accused of receiving up to $30 million in bribes from two Swiss companies that won contracts to restore state-owned buildings -- deals he oversaw as the head of the Kremlin's property empire under Yeltsin.

He also faces Swiss charges of belonging to a criminal organisation.

After touching down at Cointrin airport, Borodin was immediately transferred to Geneva's only prison, Champ-Dollon.

He was expected back in court later on Saturday to appear before investigating magistrate Daniel Devaud.

Borodin's detention in the U.S. sparked protests in Moscow

"He will be heard by the judge this afternoon and is to be indicted," said Vincent Solari, a Swiss lawyer representing Borodin.

On Monday, Borodin dropped his opposition to extradition, telling a New York court he wanted to clear his name.

The two Swiss firms involved, Mabetex and Mercata, also reject all the allegations against them.

Russia dropped its own inquiry into the case last December.

Devaud has led a two-year investigation and last June laid formal money laundering charges against four people in connection with the case -- Behgjet Pacolli, the Kosovo-born chief executive of Mabetex, two asset managers and a Geneva lawyer.

Pacolli has denied the charges.

A Geneva tribunal last year lifted the judge's order to freeze Mercata accounts saying there was insufficient evidence.

Solari said he hoped the Russian would be released quickly, arguing that there was no proof any funds involved came from criminal sources -- which he said was a requirement for money laundering charges to stick.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Borodin to face Swiss judge
April 3, 2001
Borodin drops extradition fight
April 2, 2001
Yeltsin aide, held in N.Y., hospitalized
March 13, 2001
Russian official denied U.S. bail
March 10, 2001
Swiss seek ex-Kremlin aide's extradition
February 5, 2001
Ex-Yeltsin aide held in U.S.
January 18, 2001

Russian Government
Swiss Federal Police

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