Man faces extradition to both U.S., Russia

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — A Prague appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court ruling that a Russian man who faces charges of hacking computers at American companies can be extradited to the U.S.

Czech authorities arrested Yevgeniy Nikulin in Prague in co-operation with the FBI in October last year. He is accused by U.S. prosecutors of penetrating computers at Silicon Valley firms including LinkedIn and Dropbox in 2012.

Moscow also wants him extradited on a separate charge of internet theft in 2009.

Prague’s Municipal Court ruled in May that both extradition requests meet the necessary legal conditions. Nikulin appealed his extradition to both countries but later withdrew an appeal against his extradition to Russia. Following the ruling by Prague’s High Court, it is now up to the justice minister to approve or dismiss the extradition. It is not clear when a decision can be expected.

Nikulin’s defence attorney Martin Sadilek said he was “surprised, astonished and disappointed.”

Nikulin denied he was a hacker and claimed he’s a car lover. He ran a popular Instagram account devoted to sports cars and socialized with the children of the Kremlin’s elite, including the daughter of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Nikulin previously claimed he was twice approached by U.S. authorities while in detention, in the absence of his previous lawyer. He said they urged him to falsely testify that he co-operated in the hacking attack on the Democratic National Committee ordered by Russian authorities. He said U.S. authorities would, in exchange, give him money and a life in the U.S., which he refused.

There is no indication that Nikulin’s case is connected to the DNC hacking accusation.