Former Russian Nuclear Minister Willing to Face Embezzlement Charges in U.S., Attorney Says

Former Russian Atomic Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov is willing to come to the United States to face charges of embezzling U.S. nuclear security assistance funds, the Chicago Tribune reported today (see GSN, May 19).

“We admit monies went into his account,” said defense attorney Lanny Breuer. “However, at the same time he was expending monies so that all the scientists were getting paid and all the projects were completed.”

A U.S. indictment alleges that Adamov and a partner diverted more than $9 million in U.S. aid into personal bank accounts in the United States, Monaco and France, the Tribune reported.

Adamov, currently in Swiss custody on a U.S. warrant, is awaiting a ruling by the Swiss Supreme Court on his detention. A decision could come down later this week, Breuer said.

Adamov and U.S. partner Mark Kaushansky are accused of using “multiple bank accounts and companies to conceal the nature of their activities.” 

If convicted, Adamov faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison, a $1.75 million fine or both, according to the Tribune. Kaushansky could be sentenced to 180 years in prison, be fined $5 million or both.

During the 1990s, Adamov was head of NIKIET, a Russian nuclear research institute. NIKIET designated a Russian agency, Energopool, as recipient of U.S. nuclear security assistance funds, the indictment says. 

In 1993, Adamov and Kaushansky formed a private Pennsylvania company, Energo pool Inc., according to the Tribune. The two also established a company in the Bahamas and bank accounts in Monaco and France to receive U.S. funds, the indictment says.

About $4.6 million in U.S. funds were transferred to private accounts belonging to Adamov and his wife, according to the indictment.

“As far as I know, the (Russian nuclear) ministry never received any means from these firms or through them from nuclear laboratories,” Adamov told the Tribune in 2002, adding that he had “no relationship” to the U.S. entities (Stephen Hedges, Chicago Tribune, June 28).

Back to top
About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines © Copyright 2008 by National Journal Group, Inc. The material in this section is produced independently for NTI by National Journal Group, Inc. Any reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is a violation of federal law and is strictly prohibited without the consent of the National Journal Group, Inc. All rights reserved.