Larnaca, Cyprus. Cyprus’ Supreme Court on Monday rejected a legal challenge by a Russian national detained as part of extradition proceedings to the United States, ruling that his arrest and continued custody were lawful.
The man was arrested on May 9 at Larnaca airport following an Interpol notice from US authorities alleging conspiracy and money laundering offences between April 2023 and June 2025.
Challenge to detention
The man’s lawyers argued that the arrest was based only on an Interpol alert rather than a formal request and said there was no completed extradition request at the time.
They proposed that he could be released under conditions including a financial guarantee, daily reporting to police, and surrender of travel documents.
Lower court ruling
The Larnaca district court ordered that he remain in custody until June 30 and allowed a 50-day period for US authorities to submit the necessary documents.
The court accepted prosecution arguments that there was a significant risk he could flee, as he had entered Cyprus as a tourist and had no local ties.
Supreme Court decision
The Supreme Court dismissed the challenge, saying custody was ordered by a competent court under extradition law and a treaty signed between the United States and Cyprus, and therefore could not be treated as unlawful.
It said objections to procedure must be made through other legal routes, not through this type of review.
The court also said the risk of absconding was a matter for the trial court’s judgment and could not be reassessed.
It added that the 50-day detention period was within the 60-day limit allowed for extradition paperwork under the treaty.