The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Ukraine has suspended the extradition of Adam Osmayev, the main suspect in the preparations for an assassination attack against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The European Court of Human Rights earlier recommended doing so.
“Indeed, Ukraine has suspended the extradition of Adam Osmayev. On August 17, the Prosecutor General’s Office received the European Court of Human Rights’ decision to accept for consideration Osmayev’s claim contesting the legitimacy of the decision on his extradition,” Ukrainian Foreign Ministry press officer Alexander Dikusarov told Interfax.
Dikusarov said the decision is within the terms of reference of the law enforcement agencies, namely, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, and is currently “at the stage of development.”
The ministry official said Ukraine will provide the European Court of Human Rights with documents on this case in the nearest future.
“At the same time, according to our information, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has already informed Russia that the extradition has been suspended,” Dikusarov said.
Dikusarov said the Ukrainian human rights ombudsman in the European Court of Human Rights maintains permanent contact with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office on the matter.
The European Court of Human Rights has recommended that Ukraine suspend the extradition to Russia of Adam Osmayev, the main suspect in plotting an assassination attack on Vladimir Putin, until the end of the legal proceedings.
It was reported earlier that several internationally wanted men were detained in a special operation in Odessa on February 4, 2012. They are suspected of a bomb attack in Odessa on January 4, 2012, in which Ruslan Madayev, a 26-year-old Russian citizen, was killed and 28-year-old Kazakh citizen Ilya Pyanzin was seriously injured.
Elements of improvised explosive devices were found at the scene of the blast. Pyanzin was detained and started actively cooperating with the investigation, saying that the group was led by Osmayev, who was detained in Odessa later in February.
The Ukrainian Security Service confirmed on February 27 that Russian and Ukrainian special services averted an assassination attempt on then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office received a Russian Prosecutor General’s Office request for Osmayev’s extradition.
Osmayev is believed to have led a cell of the Caucasus Emirate terrorist organization in Odesa.
The Odesa Region Court of Appeals backed the proposal of the Russian Prosecutor’s General Office to extradite Osmayev to Russia on August 14.
