Ukrainian Businessman Arrested in Austria on U.S. International Corruption Conspiracy Charges

2014-03-17

Dmitry Firtash, 48, a Ukrainian businessman, was arrested Wednesday by Austrian authorities in Vienna on a provisional arrest request based on charges filed in the Northern District of Illinois, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon of the Northern District of Illinois.

The charges result from an investigation, which the FBI has conducted for several years, of an alleged international corruption conspiracy. Firtash’s arrest is not related to recent events in Ukraine.

Firtash, who controls Group DF, an international conglomerate of companies, remains in Austrian custody unless he meets the bail condition of posting a €125 million bond, which was set in a Vienna court. The U.S. government will seek his extradition.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice