The fate of Vitaly Vanshelboim, a former senior United Nations official accused of accepting about $3 million in improper gifts for himself and family members, is coming to a head in a Madrid courtroom, where Spanish prosecutors are seeking his extradition to the United States to stand trial on bribery charges.
In a bid to prevent his transfer to the U.S., Vanshelboim and his attorney marshaled a litany of claims, including: he fears for his life; he is a victim of political persecution; and he would be denied an opportunity to publish a book he began writing in 2023 about American misdeeds in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, or to potentially “bring it to Netflix” for consideration, according to an account of the court hearing by the Spanish new agency, EFE.
On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Spain’s national court ordered Vanshelboim to be extradited to the U.S., after a three-judge panel concluded there was enough evidence that he engaged in bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering. The court’s ruling is subject to appeal and final approval by the Spanish government, according to Reuters, which cited a court document.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
