Alim Bishenov, Managing Partner, BMS Law Firm:

Neither initiation against Rodchenkov of a case on hindering investigation, nor statements made by the Russian Investigatory Committee will have any tangible effects.

The statements of the Russian Investigatory Committee cannot have any legal force for the international community, since all decision making by international organizations may be done based on evidence only. Formal statements by Russian authorities definitely do not qualify, said the
lawyer.

As for initiation of another case against Rodchenkov, this will not result in his extradition. On the contrary, escalation of his criminal prosecution may give him still broader protective guarantees against extradition.

Although the chances that American authorities will consent to his extradition are nearly zero well without it, there is no extradition treaty between Russian and the US, and Rodchenkov is considered to be contributing to an international investigation, and his prosecution – as a way to impede it”.

Also, Bishenov noted that the criminal case against the ex-head of the Moscow Anti-doping Laboratory and the statements issued by the Investigatory Committee may harm Russia’s position in the world sports community.

“If we are talking about the country’s image, then yes, such statements will harm Russia, since the global community will have an impression that abuses are covered on the state level of authority. However, such steps by Russia will not have any tangible effects”, the lawyer
emphasized.