Vladimir Gusinski was released

Описание: (27 Mar 2001)

1. Exterior of Valdemoro prison
2. Flags
3. People entering prison
4. Close shot of fax
5. Various of Gusinsky walking out of building and hugging people
6. Sign that reads: 'Centro Penitenciario Madrid III'
7. Gusinsky walking away from building
8. Man carrying bag
9. SOUNDBITE: (English)
(Q: How are you feeling, Sir? Are you happy?)
"I am happy but I'm not feeling. It is not finished, unfortunately."
10. Gusinsky shaking hands with people in car park
11. Gusinsky getting into car
12. Car driving away

STORYLINE:

Spain's National Court freed Russian media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky on bail on Monday while it was to decide whether to extradite him to Russia on fraud charges.

Court sources said the ruling indicated that the three-judge panel had already rejected the extradition request but had not make its decision public yet.

It was not known when the judges would issue their decision, which was open to appeal.

Gusinsky left Madrid's Valdemoro prison on Monday evening. His lawyer says he plans to fly to Malaga in Southern Spain later on Monday where he has a home nearby.

A 5.5 (M) million U-S dollars bail Gusinsky posted in December was maintained and the Court ordered him to report to the Spanish police on a daily basis.

The 48-year-old media magnate is wanted in Russia in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud case involving his Media-Most empire.

He claims he is a victim of political prosecution because of Media-Most's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian prosecutors say Gusinsky overstated the assets of his media operation to win 300 (M) million U-S dollars in loan guarantees in 1996 from the state-owned natural gas monopoly Gazprom.

He was arrested and jailed in Sotogrande on December 12, 2000 then freed on bail 10 days later but placed under house arrest.

He was jailed again earlier this month ahead of a March 15 extradition hearing before the judges.

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