Former Deputy Ombudsman: Georgia Has Resumed Extradition of Prisoners to Russia

Giorgi Burjanadze told the news outlet Netgazeti that he checked the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation (*Generalnaya Prokuratura*) and discovered that extradition records had appeared this year.

According to the agency’s website, Rasul Kaitmazov, Nikita Podstavkin, and Maksim Shcherbakov were subject to extradition. These are Russian citizens whom Georgia handed over to Moscow.

Burjanadze emphasizes that no state institution in Russia is independent or oriented toward protecting human rights; furthermore, numerous reports confirm that fundamental rights are grossly violated in Russian prisons.

“Extraditing prisoners to Russia is unacceptable. […] Numerous independent reports confirm gross human rights violations in Russian penitentiary facilities: we see torture, inhuman treatment, and inmate deaths. Brutal methods are routinely employed to extract confessions or inflict punishment. In light of this, transferring any prisoner to Russia entails a colossal risk to life and health. The situation is especially perilous when individuals have reasonable grounds to believe they may be persecuted for previously expressed views—and it was precisely such people who mostly left Russia. Naturally, there is a real threat that they will be subjected to ill-treatment there due to their views or other circumstances,” Burjanadze stated.

The former Deputy Ombudsman also drew attention to the case of another figure, Mikhail Timofeev, who, it appears, also faces extradition. The defense intends to request interim measures from the Strasbourg court.

“In theory, the Supreme Court ought to suspend this procedure… However, we know that the Georgian judicial system ultimately and invariably hands down verdicts that the ruling authorities deem necessary and expedient at any given moment. Therefore, I have no faith in the Georgian courts,” Giorgi Burjanadze noted.

Netgazeti sent an official inquiry to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia seeking clarification on what prompted the lifting of the moratorium on extraditions to Russia.

The ministry refrained from providing specific details and offered a generalized response:

“The Ministry of Justice clarifies that Georgia engages in extradition cooperation with a number of states within the framework of national legislation and international conventions. In particular, an average of 200–250 wanted persons are extradited to various countries each year.”

The ministry added that this procedure ensures that wanted individuals are brought to trial at the place where the crime was committed, in full compliance with human rights, including fair trial guarantees.

“In accordance with Georgian legislation, each extradition case is reviewed on an individual basis, and the final decision is made by courts of two instances in strict compliance with the norms of domestic law and the principles of international law.

When reviewing extradition requests, the law guarantees equal treatment for all individuals and is grounded in the principle of the administration of justice,” the agency emphasized.