Artem Uss, a 40-year-old Russian who was under house arrest in Italy earmarked for extradition to the US on charges of evading sanctions, money-laundering, and be part of a global network that illicitly imported US technology, is now in Russia, as per the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news service. His father, Alexander Uss, is the governor of the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk.
Uss is believed to have escaped from Milan last month, when he broke his electronic bracelet, only a day after a court ruling in the city allowing his extradition to the US. According to various sources, Uss was connected to suspect individuals who are alleged to have helped him elude the authorities with the help of several cars. Moreover, reports emerged that the escape had been orchestrated by Russian intelligence services.
The US prosecutors have accused Uss of being involved in a clandestine scheme which purposefully shipped US technology intended to help the Kremlin in its war efforts in Ukraine. This network is said to have operated through companies based in the US, hiding their true identity and violating the sanctions imposed by America on Russia.
The government of Krasnoyarsk has confirmed that the suspect is currently in Russia.
The Krasnoyarsk regional government under Alexander Uss has been a major proponent of economic reforms, infrastructure development, and humanitarian initiatives for over a decade. Additionally, the current governor has extensively supported art and film-making in the region as well as focusing heavily on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Artem Uss has been a controversial figure, owing to his family’s wealth, connections, and alleged involvement in various criminal activities. He has a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics. He left this region shortly after the US imposed economic sanctions on them.
