VIENNA — An Austrian court on December 10 finalized its decision to reject the extradition of Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash to the United States on bribery charges, closing another chapter in a prolonged legal battle. Firtash, a former ally of ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, amassed wealth through importing gas to Ukraine from Russia and Central Asia in partnership with Gazprom.
He faces US charges alleging he paid bribes to Indian officials in 2006 to secure titanium mining licenses, a claim he denies, calling it politically motivated. The Higher Regional Court in Vienna declared its decision “legally binding” and final, dismissing prosecutors’ appeal against a 2024 ruling that barred extradition. Firtash has been confined to Austria since 2014 under an international arrest warrant from the US. His business group, Group DF, operates in energy, chemicals, media, banking, and real estate across various countries.
The tycoon also faces sanctions from the UK, accusing him of extensive corruption, and from Ukraine’s government for dealings with Russian military-linked companies. This ruling marks a significant setback for US authorities seeking to prosecute Firtash amid broader geopolitical and legal complexities surrounding his case.