Refugee’s Extradition Paused for Holiday Return.

A Russian seeking asylum was detained at Palermo airport and notified about the prospect of being sent back to their home country.

Following a holiday in Italy, a Russian refugee living in the UK confronted extradition threats upon his attempt to return home, but he has now managed to secure a last-minute relief.

Wrapping up a week-long stay in Palermo, the Russian, who holds refugee status in the UK, faced warnings about extradition upon his planned return to Britain.

Though refugees have the right to utilize refugee travel documents for international trips, this incident highlights significant concerns regarding the safety of such journeys.

At 50 years old, this man is an impassioned advocate for human rights, preferring to keep his identity undisclosed for safety reasons. He, along with his wife and nine-year-old son, had arranged a flight back to the UK on August 23.

Initially passing through airport security in Palermo, he was apprehended and taken to Sicily’s Pagliarelli prison. Subsequently, he faced potential extradition to Russia due to a 2017 warrant issued by a regional branch of the Russian interior ministry.

During his time in Russia, he worked alongside notable activists, including Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist who opposed Putin and tragically lost her life in 2006.

Fleeing from Russia, he believed that staying in his home country would jeopardize his safety. Seeking asylum in the UK due to an arrest warrant issued in 2017, he underwent extensive security screenings and was eventually granted refugee status.

His wife was shocked by her husband’s detention, leading her to seek help from officials at the British embassy. Unfortunately, she was told that assistance was only available to British citizens, excluding UK residents with refugee status.

Expressing her emotions to The Guardian, his wife said, “We never imagined such an event happening in Europe. I’m deeply anxious for him. His high blood pressure made him turn pale upon his arrest at the airport.”

Upon receiving news from an urgent court hearing in an Italian court on Monday, where officials announced the decision to halt the extradition process, the man’s wife conveyed her relief to The Guardian, saying, “It feels like life has returned to my body. My son is thrilled. He finally smiled.”

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Italy intervened and presented arguments during a court session in Palermo on Monday.

In their statement to the court, UNHCR confirmed that the man “was granted refugee status by English authorities, a status that prevents his expulsion, repatriation, or extradition to his country of origin.”

The statement further conveyed, “UNHCR expects the case to be evaluated while considering international obligations and human rights.”

Following the court proceedings, the man was released from prison on Monday evening and joyfully reunited with his wife and family in Palermo. The family is eager to return to the UK at the earliest opportunity.

The man’s Italian lawyer, Luca Bonanno, expressed gratitude to all involved parties for averting the extradition threat. He stated, “The Palermo court of appeal’s decision has finally restored [the man’s] dignity, primarily due to the recognition of his refugee status by Great Britain.”

Fahad Ansari of Riverway Law, the man’s lawyer in the UK, strongly criticized the policy of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which refuses to support individuals granted refugee status in the UK when they face difficulties abroad.

“My client found himself in a nightmarish situation without access to consular assistance while imprisoned in Italy, facing extradition to Russia, where execution was imminent,” Ansari emphasized, urging the government to establish laws ensuring that protected individuals continue to receive consular support when traveling abroad.

A spokesperson for the Italian embassy in London conveyed to The Guardian before Monday’s court decision, “We are aware of the case, being handled by Italian authorities in collaboration with their British counterparts, following standard procedures for such scenarios.”