Official: Russia turns down extradition request

The Russian Prosecutor has confirmed that the Serbian Justice Ministry’s application for the extradition of smuggler Stanko Subotic had been turned down. According to the duty prosecutor at the Department for Cooperation with the Media and Public Dmitry Karnazhitsky, under Russian law, Subotic “cannot be prosecuted in connection with the matter for which his extradition is being sought, because it the case has expired.” Official: Russia turns down extradition request “On June 23, 2008, in line with the European Convention on Extradition, the Russian Federation’s Chief Prosecution has refused to respond to approve the request for Stanko Subotic’s extradition,” said Karnazhitsky. Earlier today Podgorica daily Vijesti reported that Subotic, wanted in Serbia for running a cigarette smuggling racket during the 90s, had been released from custody in Moscow. "I am a free man, and I feel great,” Subotic told the paper in a brief telephone conversation.According to the daily, Subotic was sitting in a Moscow restaurant with friends at the time. He was released from Moscow extraditional custody yesterday, in what was tantamount to a refusal to the Serbian authorities’ extradition request. Referring to sources close to Subotic, the Podgorica daily states that the Russian prosecutor who conducted the investigation established that there was no evidence of Subotic’s guilt, who, it states, Serbia has been pursuing for cigarette smuggling since the mid-Nineties. Subotic was arrested in Moscow on April 28 on an international warrant filed by Serbia, as one of the kingpins of a group of smugglers. The trial of Subotic’s group is scheduled to resume on June 30, when former Customs Chief Mihalj Kertes is due to enter a plea.

Official: Russia turns down extradition request

“On June 23, 2008, in line with the European Convention on Extradition, the Russian Federation’s Chief Prosecution has refused to respond to approve the request for Stanko Subotić’s extradition,” said Karnazhitsky.

Earlier today Podgorica daily Vijesti reported that Subotić, wanted in Serbia for running a cigarette smuggling racket during the 90s, had been released from custody in Moscow.

"I am a free man, and I feel great,” Subotić told the paper in a brief telephone conversation.According to the daily, Subotić was sitting in a Moscow restaurant with friends at the time.

He was released from Moscow extraditional custody yesterday, in what was tantamount to a refusal to the Serbian authorities’ extradition request.

Referring to sources close to Subotić, the Podgorica daily states that the Russian prosecutor who conducted the investigation established that there was no evidence of Subotić’s guilt, who, it states, Serbia has been pursuing for cigarette smuggling since the mid-Nineties.

Subotić was arrested in Moscow on April 28 on an international warrant filed by Serbia, as one of the kingpins of a group of smugglers.

The trial of Subotić’s group is scheduled to resume on June 30, when former Customs Chief Mihalj Kertes is due to enter a plea.