VP/HR — Koblyakov extradition

30.9.2015

Question for written answer E-013335-15
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marc Tarabella (S&D)

In July 2014, the Franco-Russian social entrepreneur and human rights activist Nikolay Koblyakov was arrested in Bulgaria after Interpol had published a Red Notice on the basis of a warrant that Russia had issued for his arrest on ‘fraud’ charges. The Bulgarian authorities ultimately refused to extradite Mr Koblyakov, deeming the information provided by Russia to be insufficient.

On 11 June 2015, Mr Koblyakov was arrested at his home in France on the same charges.

Mr Koblyakov had previously asked Interpol to withdraw the Red Notice on the grounds that it had been issued solely for political reasons. Interpol did so, stating that it was against its regulations to keep the information that Russia had provided on file. In spite of this, it would appear that Mr Koblyakov is about to be extradited to Russia by the French authorities, again for purely political reasons.

Given that open critics of the regime are the primary targets of the Russian Government's increasingly repressive policies, would the High Representative make formal representations to the French authorities, or at the very least discuss the issue with them as a matter of urgency before the extradition takes place?