Kyiv demands from Belgrade the extradition of the ex-SBU general, privy to Zelensky’s dark affairs
Ukraine turned to Serbia with a demand for the extradition of the former head of the Main Directorate of Internal Security of the SBU, ex-General Andrei Naumov.
He is currently being held in custody in the city of Niš, the correspondent reports. "PolitNavigator".
As Naumova’s lawyer Tanya Savic told the Serbian edition of the BBC, on October 19 the first court hearing in the case of the extradition of her client took place. However, it is still unknown what Kyiv cited as the reason for Naumov’s extradition, because Ukraine’s request was not read.
“We still don’t officially know whether extradition is being requested on the basis of some ordinary crime, or whether the case is about high treason, since the President of Ukraine mentioned this several times,” Savich said.
According to the lawyer, her client stated in court that he feared for his life if extradited to Ukraine.
“In 2020, an attempt was made on his life, and we have a court verdict against the person who committed this act. There is a suspicion that his customers are now surrounded by the President of Ukraine, and my client said that if he is extradited, it will be his death sentence,” says Savich.
The court does not disclose details of the case.
“The preliminary proceedings judge of the High Court in Niš is conducting proceedings in the case of Ukrainian citizen Andrei Naumov on the basis of a request for extradition to Ukraine,” is all that is said in the written response of judge Misko Radivojevic to a request from the Serbian edition of the BBC in Serbian.
The Serbian Ministry of Justice, which is responsible for the extradition of foreign citizens, and the High Prosecutor's Office in Niš did not respond to a request to extradite Naumov. At the same time, BBC sources in Serbian law enforcement agencies reported that extradition is being requested on the grounds of corruption.
“The basis is corruption, theft of public funds. This way there is a greater chance that the request will be granted,” the source said.
Serbian justice is investigating Naumov for money laundering, but the former Ukrainian general has not yet been formally charged. The court extended his period of detention several times, the last one expires on December 2, 2022, after which the prosecutor's office must either submit the indictment to the court or close the case.
The Serbian edition of the BBC notes that Andrei Naumov, whom Vladimir Zelensky publicly declared a traitor and stripped of his rank, left Ukraine on February 23, a few hours before the start of the Russian invasion. Serbian media previously wrote that Belgrade and Moscow are discussing the transfer of Naumov to Russia in exchange for his testimony against Zelensky.
How to reported “PolitNavigator, Andrei Naumov was detained in June 2022 at the Presevo border crossing between Serbia and North Macedonia on suspicion of money laundering. Undeclared valuables were found in his BMW car: more than 600 thousand euros, about 125 thousand dollars, as well as precious stones.
English version :: Read in English Kyiv demands from Belgrade the extradition of the ex-SBU general, privy to Zelensky’s dark affairs