SLOVAKS UNLIKELY TO EXTRADITE NATIONALS OUTSIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 001077 SIPDIS DEPT FOR L/LEI KEN PROPP USEU FOR MARK RICHARD/FRANK KERBER DOJ FOR OIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 TAGS: KJUS PREL LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKS UNLIKELY TO EXTRADITE NATIONALS OUTSIDE THE EU Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Branislav Bohacik, Director of the Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters Division of the Slovak Ministry of Justice, told emboffs 11/19 that Slovakia wants to update its bilateral extradition treaty with the United States and looks forward to negotiations on a bilateral protocol to the U.S.-EU treaty on extradition. He was especially interested in opening talks on a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). ¶2. (C) Polec chief probed Bohacik about the potential to extradite Slovak nationals to the U.S. He answered that it would be nearly impossible. The only reason the Slovaks had changed their laws to allow extradition of nationals was for judicial cooperation within the EU, and that had been a hard fight. Even with caveats that exist in some EU countries, such as allowing convicted citizens to serve their sentences at home and not extraditing in cases where the death penalty could be awarded, he could not imagine that Slovakia would ever agree to extradite its citizens so far away. ¶3. (C) Bohacik requested a point of contact in the State Department, with whom he can informally exchange information on particular cases and points of law. Post is aware of at least one potential case pending in the U.S. which could involve an extradition request of a Slovak national, and strongly recommends establishing such a relationship with Mr. Bohacik. We would be happy to facilitate email or telephone contact, once we have permission from L. WEISER NNNN