“[box type=”info” bg=”FFFFFF” font=”georgia” fontsize=”18″]…“an absolutely seismic development on so many different levels,” a Standard Bank analyst told the Financial Times[/box]
CHICAGO – One of Ukrainian’s richest businessmen was arrested Wednesday by Austrian authorities in Vienna on an warrant filed by the U.S. Justice Department, federal officials said.
Dmitry Firtash, 48, a Ukrainian businessman, was arrested after an FBI investigation of alleged international corruption conspiracy that lasted several years , federal authorities said.
Firtash’s arrest is not related to recent events in Ukraine, federal authorities said.
The Financial Times reported that Firtash, who is a billionaire with assets in media, banking, energy and agriculture, is regarded as having close links with Russia and is a key player in the Russian-Ukrainian gas trade.
Timothy Ash, analyst at Standard Bank, in a note to investors told the Financial Times that the arrest was “an absolutely seismic development on so many different levels.”
Firtash, who controls Group DF, an international conglomerate of companies, remains in Austrian custody unless he meets the bail condition of posting bond.
The U.S. government will seek his extradition.