Astana, Kazakhstan, Nov. 4
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakh Attorney General's Office didn't held and isn't holding any talks on a possible re-extradition of the Kazakh BTA Bank's ex-head, Mukhtar Ablyazov from Russia or Ukraine, the press service of the Attorney General's Office said Nov. 4.
Ablyazov is being accused of financial violations worth over $6 billion. Ablyazov himself and his supporters claim that his prosecution is being conducted for political reasons.
The Attorney General's Office said the Kazakh law enforcement bodies' attention is currently focused on completion of the criminal investigation on the case of Ablyazov, and securing a compensation for the inflicted damage.
It was also noted that the Attorney General's Office will strictly adhere to the principles of international legal cooperation, respecting any of the agreements and obligations of participants of the international legal cooperation process.
Ablyazov was arrested in France, July 31, 2013 and has since been in custody.
Earlier, the French court twice refused to meet the requests on freeing the businessman.
Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine sought his extradition.
In early January, the French court ruled to extradite Ablyazov to Russia or Ukraine, with priority given to the Russian side.
The message said the French court's decision on Ablyazov's extradition to Russia or Ukraine, is accompanied by several requirements and preconditions of imperative nature to the requesting countries.
In particular, Russia and Ukraine should present guarantees to France not to extradite the criminal to a third country without prior permission of France.
"At the same time, the Attorney General's Office of Kazakhstan still insists on reviewing of its request by the French authorities and a competent court, and isn't going to abandon the prosecution with regard to the members of Ablyazov's organized criminal group," the message said.
Edited by SI