[JURIST] Russian police on Monday released suspected organized crime leader Semyon Mogilevich [FBI profile] after a court found that prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to continue holding him. Mogilevich and another man, Vladimir Nekrasov, were arrested [JURIST report] in January 2008. The court ordered their release [RIA Novosti report], citing the length of time that they had already been detained and the relatively minor charges against them. Mogilevich is also wanted in the US [FBI profile] on unrelated charges for allegedly manipulating the stock of YBM Magnex International, and is suspected of involvement in more serious crimes including arms dealing and drug trafficking. The court subjected Mogilevich to a travel ban, and prosecutors have said they plan to re-file charges against him [Reuters report] later in the week.

Mogilevich and two others were indicted [press release, PDF] on US federal charges in 2003. They face 45 counts of racketeering, securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering charges. It is unlikely that Mogilevich will ever stand trial on the US charges, as the US and Russia do not have an extradition treaty.