Supreme Court annuls the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office on extradition of a private person to the Russian Federation

On December 21, 2023, the Department of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court annulled the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office to extradite a private person to the Russian Federation, finding that there was a risk of torture and that they would no longer have an important means of legal protection in the case of extradition.

The case was initiated upon the appeal of a Russian citizen contesting the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia in 2021 to extradite the person to Russia.

The Supreme Court concluded that, since Russia has been excluded from the Council of Europe since March 2022, it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. As a result, individuals will no longer have an important means of legal protection should they come under Russian jurisdiction.

The court’s decision is final.

Representation of the client in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia was ensured by Senior Associate Marija Berdova, the team of experts also included Managing Partner Lauris Liepa and Associate Gabriela Šantare.