Greece refuses to extradite suspected Russian arms dealer to Peru

Greek prosecutors on Wednesday closed extradition proceedings against a Russian national detained in Greece on suspicion of involvement in an arms deal with Colombia's FARC guerrilla group. Vladimir Gavrilov was detained by Greek police in late August near Thessaloniki on an international warrant issued by Peru. The case was closed on formal grounds, his lawyer said. He added that Peruvian authorities failed to submit the required paperwork within the 30-day timeframe. Gavrilov will shortly return to Russia, his lawyer went on. Gavrilov was remanded in custody for 30 days pending the arrival of official documents from Peru. The police said Gavrilov was implicated in an illegal arms deal involving 10,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles delivered to Colombia's FARC leftist guerrilla group in 1999. Vladimiro Montesinos, former chief of Peru's intelligence service, was sentenced to 20 years in 2006 for masterminding the deal.