Opinion on Extraditing

Czech Helsinki Committee is concerned about procedures used by some governmental authorities of the Czech Republic, which without thorough study and necessary information issue decisions on extradition (including confinement in extradition prisons) of certain citizens coming from the countries with authoritarian or undemocratic regime into cruel conditions, usually prisons, in such countries. We have confirmed information on few such cases and we stood up for defense of human rights for such people in danger, unjustly accused or prosecuted, in the last case the two Uzbeks.

We ask responsible people in government of the Czech Republic to resolutely stop such extraditions and to instruct relevant responsible employees, mainly stated administration employees, how it is necessary to proceed in such cases. All those who were unjustly and in conflict with international human rights norms detained and confined in prisons deserve an apology by representatives of relevant governmental authorities of the CR.

However as we learn the above mentioned procedures are practiced it seems in other European countries. Among those is a case of Mr. Andrey Osadchiy who was extradited to the Russian authorities by German organs. Mr. Osadchiy, apparently wrongly accused in Russia, is at the moment in prison and awaits court procedure, maybe even the confinement.

Therefore we wish to alarm European Helsinki committees, International Helsinki Federation and Amnesty International in relation to this danger of human and civil rights violations within states and in international relations.

For the Czech Helsinki Committee:

Mgr. František Valeš,  PhDr. Libuše Šilhánová

In Prague, 11 September 2007