Russian officials on 4 May demanded that the United States arrest and extradite Vladimir Gusinsky, who had arrived in the U.S. to speak on the occasion of Free Press Day, Russian and Western agencies reported. A U.S. State Department spokesman said that Washington considers the charges against Gusinsky to be political. The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, releasing a statement saying that "despite loud declarations of the importance of jointly fighting financial crimes, Washington has shown in this case that in considering specific cases, they are first of all motivated by political concerns." (RFE/RL)