Genoa judges deny extradition of former executive; risks persecution in Russia
Accused of corruption in St Petersburg
Court of Appeal: Klimov cannot be handed over to Russia
The Court of Appeal in Genoa has denied the extradition to Russia of Aleksandr Klimov, former deputy general director of Mostotrest, the road authority of St Petersburg, accused of corruption. This is reported by ANSA Cronaca.
Judge Milena Catalano determined that, if handed over to Russian authorities, Klimov would be "subjected to persecutory acts or acts that could harm his fundamental rights".
Klimov had been arrested in Rapallo on 2 May, after the court of Krasnogvardeiskiy, a district of St Petersburg, had issued an international arrest warrant. In Russia he is charged with corruption committed between 7 March 2019 and 13 September 2023: acting as deputy director of Mostotrest, he allegedly abused his position by systematically requesting monthly payments from employees as bribes, in agreement with an unidentified accomplice.
Questioned in Italy, the former executive stated that the charges against him were brought "only after leaving Russia to cover up the failings of the brother of the former minister who is accusing him" and that it is "a case of political persecution because he decided to leave". Klimov is defended by lawyer Fabio Panariello, who demonstrated that his client is also a Polish citizen — and therefore an EU citizen — and resides in Poland with his wife and children.
In her reasoning for the denial, Judge Catalano emphasised that the position of the Russian Federation "presents indubitably critical aspects" in terms of respect for fundamental rights, also following its exclusion from the Council of Europe. Russia has also withdrawn from the European Convention on Human Rights, ceasing to be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights and the obligation to respect its principles, including the right to a fair trial and the prohibition of inhuman and degrading treatment.
Source: ANSA Cronaca