Russian court rules in Gusinsky's favour

A court in Moscow has ruled that the fraud case against the Russian media tycoon, Vladimir Gusinsky, is unfounded.

The court's decision was welcomed by his lawyers, who said they could now ask the Spanish authorities to dismiss the extradition case against him.

The Russian prosecutors have said they will appeal.

Mr Gusinsky, the head of the Media-Most company, was arrested earlier this month by Spanish police acting on an international warrant.

He's wanted in Moscow after having failed to turn up for questioning in a fraud investigation and is being held in custody near his luxury villa in southern Spain pending a court decision on whether to extradite him. There've been accusations by Mr Gusinsky's lawyers that the charges are politically motivated.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service