Lithuanian GPO refuses to extradite Zurab Maisuradze to Russia

The request to extradite Zurab Maisuradze, the ex-head of the Georgian Anti-Terrorist Centre, who was detained on Russia's demand, was politically motivated, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Lithuania has regarded, and refused to extradite him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 4, 2016, the court sanctioned the arrest of Zurab Maisuradze, who was detained at the request of Russia in Vilnius. On December 7, 2016, the Lithuanian GPO released Maisuradze from custody on bail. Maisuradze himself treated the charges put forward against him by Russia as absurd; he considers them as revenge for the role Maisuradze played in the 2008 Georgian-Russian military conflict, said the lawyer Arvidas Pocius.

The Russia's request to extradite Maisuradze was received at the end of last week, the Lithuanian GPO has reported today.

"After evaluating the materials collected in Zurab Maisuradze's case, it was concluded that the request to extradite him in connection with the criminal prosecution was issued on political reasons and in connection with the ongoing Russia's foreign policy towards Georgia," says the statement posted on the GPO's website.

The Lithuanian GPO has decided to reject Maisuradze's extradition and lift the supervisory measures in his relation.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.