Cyprus Supreme Court Rejects Appeal, Clears Extradition of Israeli Man to Russia Over 2009 Piracy Charges
The Supreme Court of Cyprus has rejected the latest appeal by an Israeli national seeking to block his extradition to Russia, enabling his transfer to face trial for piracy offenses committed in 2009. The man had sought release via a writ of habeas corpus, but the court found no unlawful detention or grounds deeming extradition unjust or oppressive.
Held since a February 2026 ruling by the Larnaca District Court, which confirmed the legal basis for extradition, the man was accused by Russian authorities of piracy involving violence and weapons by an organized group. The Supreme Court affirmed that it could not re-examine the district court's factual findings and noted sufficient evidence linked the detainee to the alleged crimes.
Arguments concerning the statute of limitations, potential loss of evidence, unavailable witnesses, or risks of ill-treatment in Russia were dismissed due to lack of specific proof. While acknowledging concerns since Russia's withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights, the court emphasized that extradition is still permissible absent concrete evidence of human rights violations. The man remains in custody pending extradition to Russia.
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