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


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