Press Release
Boris Berezovsky - Court Rejects Second Extradition Bid
Press Release
5 June 2006
In an important ruling on 1 June 2006 (the text of which was released today), Senior District Judge Timothy Workman at Bow Street Magistrates Court denied permission for extradition proceedings to be brought at the request of the Russian government against the politician and businessman Boris Berezovsky. The Judge held that since Mr Berezovsky has the benefit of political asylum, under the provisions of the Geneva Convention, he could not be returned to Russia. "Therefore, if this court is to entertain this application, a lengthy process involving great expense to the British taxpayer would be embarked upon which would in effect be futile," the Judge stated.
Note to Editors:
Boris Berezovsky was granted political asylum on 10 September 2003, after the Russian government had sought his extradition on charges of fraud, which have themselves since been discredited by rulings of the highest Russian appellate courts, which held that the transactions in question were not unlawful.
In the latest extradition request from the Russian government, Mr Berezovsky was accused of planning a coup d'etat, after he had described the Putin regime as unconstitutional and predicted that it would fall under pressure from the Russian people.
Enquiries: Andrew Stephenson