Artem Uss Talks About His Italian Detention and Escape
Artem Uss, the son of the former Krasnoyarsk Territory governor and current senator Alexander Ussa, described his abrupt break from house arrest in Italy. He rejected suggestions that he or his relatives paid for any escape services, calling those claims ridiculous and stating he simply became the subject of events he never planned. He spoke of the situation in an interview with RBC.
“I am a businessman, not a Bond hero”, Uss said. He explained that his legal education in law shaped his approach to defend himself in court and that he anticipated a prolonged legal battle, potentially spanning many years.
When asked about rumors in the Italian press alleging involvement of Russian special services in his escape, he refused to comment. He noted that American authorities use what they consider appropriate methods to protect their interests and sometimes even celebrate their stories in films. He asked why Russia should not respond in kind if it sees fit.
Uss claimed that the United States wanted his extradition to seize him as a bargaining chip, pressuring Russia to concede in exchange for American citizens held in Russia. He also accused Washington of having limited knowledge about Russian history.
He added that such actions should not alter positions; instead, they might harden them. He remarked that being in the wrong place at the wrong time made him a legitimate target and a news subject for the United States.
Conversations in the Detention Facility
Uss described his detention as occurring in the duty free area of Malpensa Airport, before passport control and a flight to Istanbul. A group of five people approached, two of them in police uniforms, requesting a document check. After presenting his passport, he was invited into a room, handcuffed, his luggage searched, and then he was moved to a holding area and later to detention.
He noted that the prison held many inmates from Muslim countries and members of the CIS, including Ukrainians. His cellmates reportedly included a Libyan and a Senegalese, and he observed that there were fewer Italian prisoners in northern Italian facilities, a reflection of migration patterns. He said both inmates and staff expressed sympathy toward him during the stay.
Uss recalled conversations with others who were curious or surprised by his lifestyle, noting that he did not own a yacht and preferred a Ducati Hypermotard motorcycle. He mentioned using a four-person rigid inflatable boat at sea while describing his daily routines.
He said the lack of English among prison staff created uncertainty about his future. The emotional weight of potentially not seeing his family for years was heavy, and he admitted feeling anger and disappointment at what he described as illegal detentions influenced by locals organizing what he called legal safaris on Italian soil.
Returning to Russia and reuniting with his family brought him relief and happiness. He expressed a plan to pursue legal action in the European Court and to establish a long-term defense in the United States, though he acknowledged the geopolitical climate would make this difficult. He remained focused on business and work as well.
Timeline of the Escape and Detention
The events date back to October 17, 2022, when Italian authorities detained Uss at Milan’s airport at the request of the United States. American officials accused him of activities such as smuggling oil, trading military technology through shell companies, money laundering, and violating sanctions. He faced potential decades in prison if convicted.
Uss did not opt for voluntary extradition to the United States. A court decision placed him under house arrest in late November. On the following March, after formal approval of his extradition, he removed his electronic monitor and fled from the Basiglio area near Milan. It is believed he crossed the Italian border into a neighboring country, possibly Switzerland or Slovenia.
News outlets cited investigations suggesting that Uss had a broad network of accomplices and that Russian services might have aided him during the escape, according to reporting from Corriere della Sera and Republic.