BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/11/2007

Czech court rejects Israeli woman's extradition to Belarus

Prague- The extradition of Israeli citizen Sheli Kazansky, 47, from the Czech Republic to Belarus is unacceptable, the Prague City Court decided.

Belarussian authorities argue that Kazansky committed a fraud in Belarus before she left for Israel where she has been living for over ten years along with her partner, son and mother.

Kazansky says she fears of her life if extradited to her homeland. She said she believed her case would not be dealt with objectively due to her ethnic origin.

Kazansky has been in extradition custody since September when the Czech police arrested her at Prague airport on the basis of an international arrest warrant.

Kazansky's lawyer Richard Malecek said he considered the case fabricated.

But state attorney Iva Bicanova says she believes Kazansky's extradition is acceptable. "The crime concerned has not political character, Kazansky's statements are expedient in many ways," Bicanova told the court on Monday.

Bicanova may appeal the verdict. It is the justice minister who has the final say in extradition cases.

Belarussian authorities say Kazansky borrowed the sum of several thousands of U.S. dollars and did not return the money to her creditors.

However, Malecek claims Kazansky's business partner, an influential police official, betrayed Kazansky who was then blackmailed and threatened by a gang. He said Kazansky worked hard in Israel to be able to return the debt to the blackmailers.

Author: CTK

Source:

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=282912

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