Swiss charge ex-Yeltsin aide

A van takes Borodin to prison from the Geneva court

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Former Kremlin aide Pavel Borodin has been formally charged with money-laundering in Switzerland.

His lawyer said Borodin -- who was a close confidante of Russia's ex-President Boris Yeltsin -- was indicted by Geneva investigating judge Daniel Devaud in a two-hour hearing on Saturday.

He had arrived in Switzerland hours earlier after being extradited from the United States.

Devaud and chief prosecutor Bernard Bertossa accuse Borodin of receiving more than $25 million in bribes from two Swiss companies that won lucrative contracts to restore state-owned buildings in Russia.

Borodin was head of the Kremlin's property empire under Yeltsin but was dismissed from the post in 1999 by the current Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Mr. Borodin has been indicted formally on charges which are well known, money-laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation, which he totally contests," said lawyer Dominique Poncet.

After the hearing, police escorted Borodin to Geneva's Champ-Dollon prison. Poncet added the defence team would apply for bail on Tuesday or Thursday.

Poncet is to apply for bail for his client

Borodin has been in custody in the U.S. since January. He was arrested, on an international warrant, as he arrived in New York to attend the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

He decided this month not to fight attempts to extradite him, saying he wanted to clear his name, and arrived in Geneva early on Saturday.

Russia dropped its own inquiry into the case last December, citing lack of evidence, and has called for Borodin's release.

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

Poncet said that he would visit Borodin in prison on Monday to discuss the accusations against him in detail.

"We are going to present a request for his release, and of course Mr. Borodin would still be available to Swiss justice. It is a personal commitment that he has made and one his country has too," the lawyer said.

"He has an obligation to uphold it because he can't lose face at home."

There was no comment from Devaud, who has led a two-year investigation into the case.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Ex-Yeltsin aide arrives in Geneva
April 7, 2001
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

Swiss Federal Police
Russian Government

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