A Serbian court has made the decision to extradite a Belarusian filmmaker and pro-democracy political activist to Belarus, where he faces potential imprisonment and torture. The filmmaker is wanted in Belarus on charges of alleged tax evasion.
The exiled Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, expressed concern over the ruling, stating that the filmmaker could potentially face a severe prison sentence for his peaceful civil activism and exercise of rights if extradited.
The filmmaker has the right to appeal the court's decision, and efforts are being made by various parties, including diplomatic representatives of EU countries, lawyers, human rights defenders, attorneys, and journalists, to secure his release.
The filmmaker was arrested at Belgrade airport in October last year based on an Interpol warrant issued at the request of Belarusian authorities. Since then, he has been held in detention at Belgrade Central Prison.
An appeals court recently overturned a previous ruling by the Higher Court in Belgrade regarding the extradition, citing procedural violations and sending the case back for reconsideration.
The filmmaker had left Belarus in 2020 after criticizing the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko and participating in protests following disputed presidential elections. He has stated that the Belarusian regime seeks to punish him for his activism against dictatorship, human rights abuses, and electoral fraud.
Recent reports from Serbian independent media have highlighted concerns about Serbia's alignment with Russia and China, deviating from its path towards EU membership. This shift has raised questions about the country's commitment to democratic values and human rights.
