Legislator calls for killing ex-nuclear minister if he's not returned to Russia

A legislator from a political party known for its attention-grabbing, bellicose antics suggested in a parliament session Thursday that if Russia is unable to get the former atomic energy minister returned home, he should be eliminated.

The ex-minister, Yevgeny Adamov, has been detained in Switzerland on a U.S. warrant accusing him of diverting up to US$9 million (Ђ7.08 million) from funds intended to improve Russian nuclear security. Some Russians have expressed concern that he could be forced to divulge state secrets.

Sergei Abeltsev, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, said that if it were impossible to get Adamov repatriated, the secret services should be ordered "to eliminate the nuclear businessman."

After a long pause, lower house Speaker Boris Gryzlov said: "We'll discuss it."

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the session that the government was making efforts to free Adamov, but he declined to elaborate.

Associated Press

On the photo: Yevgeny Adamov