Swiss court says arrested ex-Russian minister must stay in prison News
Swiss court says arrested ex-Russian minister must stay in prison

[JURIST] A federal court in Lausanne, Switzerland ruled Friday that former Russian nuclear minister Yevgeny Adamov [Wikipedia profile] must remain in a Swiss prison pending hearings on an extradition request from Russia, overruling a decision [Bellona report] two weeks ago ordering his release. Switzerland's Supreme Court [official website, in German] held that "in extradition procedures, the incarceration of the person sought is the rule, from which only exceptional cases should deviate." Adamov was Russia's atomic energy minister from 1998 to 2001, when he was accused of corruption. Adamov faces fraud charges in Russia and may also face extradition to the US [MosNews report], where he is charged with embezzling $9 million [JURIST report] designated for nuclear safety upgrades in Russia. He was arrested in Bern in May on a US warrant. Swiss Info has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.