French courts clear extradition of Vladimir Antonov to Lithuania

France’s highest court has rejected an appeal by Vladimir Antonov, the former shareholder of the collapsed Lithuanian bank Snoras, paving the way for his extradition to Lithuania, LRT reports.

The Court of Cassation, France’s top judicial body, declined on Wednesday to review Antonov’s challenge against a lower court’s decision to hand him over to Lithuanian authorities. The ruling makes a April 3 decision by the Rennes Court of Appeal final, according to court representative Pierre Albertas-Roulhacas.

“The cassation appeal was not accepted for consideration. Therefore, the April 3 ruling by the Rennes Court of Appeal’s Investigative Chamber has become definitive,” Albertas-Roulhacas told BNS, adding that the written justification for the decision would be available in the coming days.

Antonov was detained in western France in December under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office. In late January, a French court required Lithuania to specify the conditions of his detention to ensure humane treatment, particularly in light of his Russian citizenship.

Antonov and fellow former Snoras shareholder Raimondas Baranauskas were convicted in absentia for eight intentional financial crimes, with Antonov identified as the mastermind. Both were ordered to pay €375.18 million in damages and forfeit €105 million in illicitly obtained assets. Lithuanian prosecutors allege they embezzled €509.18 million, causing €466.67 million in losses to Snoras and its creditors, while wasting an additional €14.5 million.

The bank was nationalised and its operations halted in late 2011. Its liquidation has been extended until the end of next year.

Lithuania’s Court of Appeal is scheduled to begin reviewing their criminal case on June 29. Prosecutors expect Antonov to be extradited by then so he can attend the hearings in person.