BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

03/01/2007

Accused Belarus spy appeals extradition in Lithuania

Sergei Monich, a Belarusian citizen accused of espionage in Poland, and two of his defense lawyers, appealed a ruling regarding his extradition from Lithuania yesterday.

The appeal requests that the Lithuanian Court of Appeals whose decision will be final overturn a ruling passed by a Vilnius district court, which granted Poland's request for extradition December 22, news agency BNS reports.

Lithuania and Belarus are signatories to an agreement on legal assistance, "which says that Belarussian citizens have the same rights in Lithuania as Lithuanian citizens in Belarus," according to Monich's lawyer. Since Lithuania, in accordance with the constitution, does not extradite its citizens, "a discrepancy arises between international and specific agreements," he said.

The district court ruled on December 22 that Poland's request for the extradition of Monich, 40, must be granted in line with the European Convention on Extradition. Monich's detention was extended until January 26. Monich claimed in the court that he had never engaged in espionage and that it was a setup organized by his acquaintance from Poland.

Poland suspects Monich of instigating espionage activities, including the gathering and transfer of information about Poland to a foreign intelligence service. Lithuania's State Security Department is also investigating to find out whether Monich was spying against Lithuania, as well.

Source:

http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1179

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