Russian media tycoon Gusinsky was not extradited from Spain to Russia because of strong pressure from Jewish lobby

Close contacts with leaders of the Jewish community in Spain allowed Russian media tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky, who was charged with fraud in Russia and detained in Spain in late 2000, to be released after the Russian authorities' petition about his extradition had been rejected, said Spanish publicist and researcher Alfonso Torres to El Mundo newspaper, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.

In his recently published book "Jewish Lobby: Myth and Truth about the Power of Modern Spanish Jews", Torres points out that diversified connections of the Spanish Jewish lobby with all branches of power, including judicial bodies, allow them even to release "their people" from prisons.

Not only Spanish Jews, but also prominent politicians from Spain and other countries supported the media tycoon, Torres recalled. Thus, Spanish ambassador to the USA Javier Ruperez made an appeal not to extradite Gusinsky to Russian justice, Israeli ex ambassador to Spain Shlomo Ben visited Gusinsky in the Soto del Real prison near Madrid, and President of the World Jewish Congress Edgar Bronfman even sent a letter to the head of the Spanish state, King Juan Carlos, asking him "to use his moral authority" to release the media tycoon.

Under this strong pressure, despite the categorical protests of Spanish prosecution and the objection of one of the collegium judges, hearing Gusinsky's case, he was released, Torres concludes.