The Lithuanian Prosecutor’s Office rejected Russia’s request to extradite the former leader of Georgia’s anti-terrorism center, who is suspected by Moscow of being involved in terrorist activity, Zurab Maisuradze, saying that Kremlin seeks his extradition for political reasons, a prosecutor’s statement said.
“After the evaluation of the material on the case, the conclusion was made that request for extradition of Z.M. for criminal prosecution was submitted for political reasons and due to Russia’s foreign policy toward Georgia,” Sputnik cited the statement as saying.
The statement added that, according to Lithuania’s criminal code, the country can refuse to extradite its citizen or foreign national if they are prosecuted for political crimes. The conclusion is yet to be approved by a Vilnius court, according to the statement.
