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Ukrainian lawyer loses appeal against extradition to US over €600k ransomware conspiracy charges

Summary

A Ukrainian lawyer, Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 42, who fled Ukraine and sought refuge in Ireland, lost his appeal against a High Court order to extradite him to the United States. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer‑related fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, linked to a ransomware campaign that targeted a government entity and two businesses in Tennessee between 2020 and 2022. Two victims paid a combined $634,000 in cryptocurrency. Lytvynenko had been in custody for two years and had applied for temporary protection in Ireland in September 2022. He argued that the extradition breached his right to a fair trial and his human rights, citing loss of access to evidence and the lack of equivalent protection in the US. The Court of Appeal, led by Ms Justice Tara Burns, dismissed the appeal, upholding the extradition order. The court granted Lytvynenko a week to consider the judgment before implementation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Ukrainian lawyer loses appeal against extradition to US over €600k ransomware conspiracy charges. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• September 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 22, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020 to 2022 Other
• 2025-10-13 Publication

Why: Lytvynenko had also contended that his human rights would be breached because his extradition to the US was incompatible with the State's obligations under EU law to offer temporary protection and reunification to those fleeing war in the Ukraine. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Fraud Stage Appeal

Read the original CNI report