Athens
Greek police arrested the Russian tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky as he stepped off a plane in Athens this week, holding him at Russia’s request. The Russian government accused Gusinsky, a media mogul who launched post-communist Russia’s first and most-respected private newspapers and TV stations, of illegally transferring more than $250 million dollars outside the country. Gusinsky says—and most Western analysts agree—that the Kremlin targeted him because his media outlets sharply criticized government policies, particularly regarding the war in Chechnya. The billionaire has been living in self-imposed exile in Israel since the charges were filed in 2000. His lawyers say the charges are baseless and that he will fight extradition. In 2000, Gusinsky was arrested in Spain, but a Spanish court ruled that Russia did not have enough evidence to back extradition and the charges were dismissed.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
September 8 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday’s political cartoons include Donald Trump booed at the U.S. Open, a hidden message in the Epstein Files and a new bird in Florida
-
How to see more of The Week's stories on GoogleHow to Add The Week as a preferred source to get more of our award-winning coverage
-
Pope Leo canonizes first millennial saintSpeed Read Two young Italians, Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, were elevated to sainthood
