BULGARIAN COURT POSTPONED THE DECISION FOR EXTRADITION OF KOBLYAKOV FOR OCTOBER

The court in Bulgaria did not pronounce on the request of the Russian authorities for extradition of the opposition activist Nikolai Koblyakov. Moscow wants the extradition of Koblyakov in relation to a criminal investigation and accusation in “swindling”, but according to human rights organizations, he is persecuted for political reasons. A week ago, Koblyakov asked for political asylum from the Bulgarian President Plevneliev.

The magistrates decided to request additional information from the Russian Federation about laws which were applicable in 2005, when Koblyakov allegedly committed a crime.

Koblyakov is a businessman and activist protecting human rights. He holds a Russian and French citizenship. Today, 10th of September, at his request, the interpretation at court was in French language, not in Russian. In front of the court, Koblyakov made a comparison between the assistance of Cecilia Sarkozy for the release of the Bulgarian medics and the way Bulgaria should, in his opinion, help a French citizen. The court denied his request to travel to Paris and scheduled the next court sitting for October.