Ukrainian officials say Russia has refused to extradite a key figure in the investigation into the poisoning that disfigured and nearly killed President Viktor Yushchenko, according to the Canadian Press.Ukraine has asked Russia to hand over the former deputy chief of Ukraine`s security service, Volodymyr Satsyuk. Satsyuk is also wanted for suspected abuse of office in a separate probe.
A prosecutors` spokesman says Russia`s Prosecutor General`s Office has declined to hand Satsyuk over because he holds Russian as well as Ukrainian citizenship.
The Russian prosecutor`s office could not be reached for comment.
Yushchenko, who was an opposition leader at the time, fell severely ill during the 2004 presidential election campaign after having dinner with Satsyuk and his boss.
