British citizens are now warned they face a “significant risk” of being extradited to Russia or other rogue states — a shocking new threat to journalists, commentators, and outspoken critics of Vladimir Putin.
A man accused of attempting to assassinate a top Russian general in Moscow was arrested in Dubai and handed straight to Russia.
The Kremlin thanked UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his cooperation.
Radha Stirling, CEO and founder of Detained in Dubai, told The Sun she has seen “numerous cases” where people have been deported “to countries that the UK would certainly have opposed”.
Read more related news:
UK to hunt down Putin’s secret ‘shadow fleet’
Ukraine strikes deep, as oil terminals burn and million-dollar air defences destroyed
Starmer warns Brits that peace is cracking under our feet
Foreign Secretary sounds war alarm as ‘we must be ready for Russian aggression
“This leaves British citizens and foreign nationals at significant risk when they travel to the UAE.
“They may believe they are safe, but the UAE can easily deport them to a third country without due process and without consulting with the UK.”
Russia’s FSB confirmed the man tried to assassinate Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, deputy head of military intelligence — linked to the Salisbury poisonings of Sergei Skripal.
Radha said, “Extradition is being used as leverage.
“People are caught in the middle of state-to-state negotiations.”
Philipp Simon Busse, a criminal defence and extradition lawyer, said there is an “extradition treaty” between Russia and the UAE, The Sun reported.
Busse told The Sun, “The conclusion of this treaty alone is an expression of mutual trust, even if this may not be justified from a human rights perspective.”
Radha added, “For some people, Dubai is no longer a transit hub. It has become a handover point.
“It is certainly concerning that the UAE cooperates with Russia and other countries in ways that bypass proper judicial process.
“It puts innocent people at risk of wrongful extradition to Russia and other countries like Uzbekistan, as I have seen recently in multiple cases.”
Anyone who works in government, defence, who has helped to raise money for Ukraine, been to the country such as journalists will be vulnerable should they enter UAE.
Shaun Pinner, author of Live, Fight, Survive, warned, “Russia is systematically exploiting INTERPOL to hunt critics, journalists, Ukrainian veterans, and foreign volunteers across the globe. Political enemies are branded criminals, journalists labelled extremists, volunteers turned mercenaries.”
“International legal mechanisms are no longer neutral ground. They have quietly become part of the battlefield,” Pinner added.
If you travel abroad, your safety is not guaranteed. Speaking out against Putin could make you Russia’s next target.
Leave a Comment