businessman associated with Kremlinwho was arrested Italian authorities upon request USAmanaged to escape and return to Moscow. Artem Ush was accused of smuggling American military technology, bank fraud and transporting oil from Venezuela to Russia in violation of international sanctions against Moscow.

His father publicly thanked Vladimir Putin for returning his son to Russia. Artem Us’s father is the governor of the Siberian Krasnoyarsk Territory and director of the state oil giant Rosneft. The family’s business interests span the globe: real estate in London, an aerospace company in Malaysia, and a hotel in Sardinia. Last year, the US added Father Us and his son Artyom to its sanctions list.

The case has sparked friction between the US and Italy, undermining Rome’s efforts to present itself as a reliable partner in the West’s confrontation with Moscow over the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the United States lacks a potentially powerful “trading paper” for exchanging Americans established in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskovich.

The US government asked the Italian authorities to keep him in prison, as they considered it highly likely that he would escape. But an Italian court placed him under house arrest. On March 22, Russian intelligence helped Us escape from his villa. The Russian forged a bracelet, which, according to Italian media, did not even have a GPS.

According to people familiar with the matter, Artem Us used an international network, including a Serbian criminal group. Most likely, he passed through Slovenia, from there to Serbia and, finally, to Russia.

Georgia Meloni called Mustache’s escape very serious and accused the court of sending him home. He also stated that the Americans did not inform the Italian intelligence services that the United States was involved in the transfer of American military technology to the Ukrainian front on behalf of Russia. “We were aware of the request from the US Department of Justice, but only that it was related to financial fraud,” the Italian Prime Minister said.

Judges in Milan accused Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio of failing to tell them that the United States asked to keep the Russian in prison. They even pointed out that the minister had the right to reverse the court’s decision and keep him in prison, but he did not.

“Over the years, Italy has developed a reputation as a country where high-profile defendants and convicts can escape prison with relative ease,” the Wall Street Journal commented. The overburdened justice system relies heavily on house arrest and travel bans. Ankle bracelets should only be worn by those who are considered especially dangerous or at high risk of care.

Like many members of the Russian elite, Us had property in Italy, which the Milanese court took as a sign that he would not escape.

According to Italian law, “it would be surprising if he had not been placed under house arrest,” said Nicola Canestrini, an Italian lawyer who has defended more than 100 extradition requests. Six of his clients fled Italy before a final decision was made in their case, including two wanted by the US.