[JURIST] Lawyers for former Russian nuclear minister Yevgeny Adamov [Kommersant profile; JURIST news archive] announced Thursday their intention to appeal to the Russian Supreme Court a Moscow City Court decision [RIA Novosti report] to extend Adamov's detention until June 8. The defense lawyers said the extension was "groundless," and argued that prosecutors signed a document certifying that they have finished case preparations, while the prosecution says they need more time to develop their case. Adamov faces fraud and abuse of power charges in Russia.

Adamov was arrested [JURIST report] in Switzerland in May 2005 on a US warrant. The US government alleges that Adamov appropriated $9 million given to Russia by the US Department of Energy for nuclear security improvements, but last month, a US prosecutor called the US case against Adamov 'pointless' [JURIST report] because the Russian government has insisted that if Adamov is to be tried, he will be tried under Russian law. After a series of legal battles [JURIST report] between the US and Russia, he was extradited to Russia in December 2005, and Russia is not expected to send Adamov to the US to face charges either before or after the Russian case against Adamov is concluded. RIA Novosti has local coverage.