08:35, 13 September 2017

Vienna Court allows extradition of Aslan Gagiev to Russia

Aslan Gagiev. Photo: http://kazanpress.ru/news/37623/lider_opg_gagiev_osvobozhden_v_avstrii_pod_zalog.html

In Vienna, the Oberlandesgericht has granted the request of the Russian General Prosecutor on the extradition of Aslan Gagiev, a native of North Ossetia, suspected of organizing a series of resonant murders.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Aslan Gagiev was detained in Vienna on January 17, 2015. The first instance court pronounced the decision to extradite Aslan Gagiev to the Russian Federation, but the Vienna Supreme Court sent the decision for revision. The decision was motivated by the fact that the Russian Federation could not ensure human rights guaranteeing freedom from torture.

Members of the Gagiev criminal grouping had committed about 40 murders in North Ossetia, Moscow and Moscow Region, in particular, they killed Mark Metsaev, the head of the republic’s Department for Combating Organized Crime (known as UBOP) of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA); the Mayor of Vladikavkaz Vitaly Karaev; Kazbek Pagiev, the former head of the administration of the same city, and others. Gagiev was detained in Vienna in January 2015.

On September 12, the Oberlandesgericht of Vienna approved the extradition of Aslan Gagiev to the Russian Federation, the "Kommersant" reports.

"The final decision will be made by the Minister of Justice... The court dismissed the complaint filed by the defendant... Our decisions are based on the fact that a fair trial will be held in the territory of Russia. We have requested for the diplomatic assurances and guarantees that no torture will be used, and Russia has issued guarantees that no torture and violations of human rights will take place," reported Judge Leo Levnaik-Ivanski as quoted by the "Kommersant".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.