French court opposes extradition of Ukraine billionaire Zhevago

PARIS (Reuters) -A French court has ruled Ukrainian billionaire Kostyantyn Zhevago should not be extradited over accusations of embezzlement, a spokesperson for Zhevago said on Thursday. 

Zhevago, who controls London-listed iron pellet producer Ferrexpo, was arrested at a French ski resort in December at the request of Ukraine, which wants him over the disappearance of $113 million from the now bankrupt lender Finance & Credit Bank. Zhevago denies any wrong-doing.

Zhevago had been released on bail for 1 million euros ($1.1 million) following his initial arrest near Chambery in France.

Ukraine issued an arrest warrant for Zhevago – who served in the Ukrainian parliament from 1998 to 2019 – in 2019, with an international arrest warrant following in 2021.

($1 = 0.9206 euros)

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)