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| Court of the Shkodër Judicial District |
Albanian Court Accepts Russia's Extradition Request for Russian Citizen
A court in Shkodra, Albania, granted Russia's extradition request for the Russian citizen Igor Kokunov on Tuesday. Kokunov is suspected of being a "collaborator or supporter of a perpetrator of serious criminal offenses in Russia."
The 59-year-old Kokunov was arrested on August 28 this year at the Muriqan border crossing in the northwest of Albania. At the time, the Albanian police stated that Kokunov "had been internationally wanted by Interpol Moscow, as Russian authorities had designated him for 'arrest in prison.'"
His defense attorney, Isuf Shehu, announced that they would appeal this decision at the Court of Appeals, as REL reports.
"We seek to prevent extradition, and this is related to humanitarian reasons. In Russia, the right to a fair judicial process is not guaranteed, and there are abuses in pretrial detention and prisons," said Shehu.
When asked about the presence of police forces and operational forces near the court during Kokunov's hearing, Shehu stated that it was "exaggerated" and that the Russian citizen "does not pose a threat."
He also denied reports in the Albanian media that "Kokunov is part of dangerous criminal groups operating in the Balkans."