Official: Adamov won't face U.S. trial

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Russia's former nuclear energy minister likely will never be tried in the United States on charges he and his American business partner embezzled $9 million from the U.S. government, a federal prosecutor said.
Yevgeny Adamov, 66, is in a Moscow jail awaiting trial for fraud and abuse of power.
Russian government officials have stated that Adamov cannot be tried in the U.S. Adamov oversaw Russia's civilian and military nuclear programs and is "the possessor of state secrets," said his attorney, Lanny Breuer.
Prosecutors accuse Adamov and his business partner, Mark M. Kaushansky, 53, of Monroeville, Pa., of stealing $9 million the U.S. Energy Department had earmarked for improvements at Russia's nuclear plants. Prosecutors allege some of the money wound up in bank accounts in Pittsburgh, where Kaushansky and Adamov owned two businesses.
On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Teitelbaum fought a defense request to allow Adamov to waive his initial court appearance and have the case move forward.
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