MOSCOW, March 31 (RAPSI) – Russia is searching for more than 3,000 convicted criminals and suspects currently residing outside the country’s borders through the Interpol channels, Izvestia newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to head of the Prosecutor General’s Office’s department for international legal cooperation, Saak Carapetyan, there are numerous criminal cases where Russia is actively cooperating with the Interpol. Among those cases is the fulfilled request for extradition to Russia of Kazakh tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov, who stands charged with embezzling over $6 billion from BTA Bank. Russia expects Austria to extradite Aslan Gagiyev, leader of the notorious criminal organization.

By request of foreign law enforcement agencies over 100 Russians were arrested and convicted for their crimes outside Russia in the last 3 years. At the same time over 80 requests filed by Russian agencies were fulfilled by foreign courts.

According to Carapetyan, foreign parties arrested over $350 million and expensive real estate properties by request of Russian authorities.

Special mention went to cooperation between Russia and Switzerland. Over $110 million were returned to Russia from Switzerland and potentially over $500 million may be returned in the foreseeable future.