site.btaAppellate Court in Varna Refuses to Extradite Alleged Burglar to Russia

The Appellate Court in Varna refused to extradite a citizen of Russia and Israel. The 50-year-old man is wanted by Russian authorities on charges of participating in an organized criminal group and robbery. According to the case files, the group operated in Saint Petersburg, where its members broke into homes and used firearms and threats to steal money and valuables.

The man was detained at Varna Airport in November 2025.

According to the Court of Appeal, the man's rights were not guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of international law. In its practice in cases against Russia, the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly found violations, including violation of the presumption of innocence, lack of effective investigation, problems with access to legal defence, restrictions on the collection of evidence, etc. An additional argument for the court is the Russian Federation's suspended membership in the Council of Europe.

The decision is final and is not subject to appeal.