France refusing extradition of antifascist campaigner to Hungary, court says he will not get a fair trial there
The French justice system is refusing to extradite to Hungary an antifascist activist originally from Albania named Rexhino Abazaj. Budapest is seeking the extradition of the left-wing radical, nicknamed Gino, on charges of committing violence against neo-Nazis during a demonstration in 2023.
A French court has concluded that Abazaj‘s fundamental rights will not be guaranteed in Hungary, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports. Hungarian authorities allege that Abazaj and a group of other radicals brutally assaulted a far-right gathering and must stand trial.
The Hungarian authorities issued a European arrest warrant for Abazaj that applies to all European Union (EU) countries. The French police arrested Abazaj, and now after four months in custody he has learned he will not be extradited to Hungary.
According to the appeals court in Paris, there is no guarantee that in Abazaj’s case the European Convention on Human Rights would be respected in full by Hungary, in particular its provisions banning torture and guaranteeing a fair trial. Abazaj’s attorney alleged to the court that his client faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted there.
The court also decided Abazaj will no longer be surveilled by the French security services. The young activist, whose extradition was loudly opposed by representatives of the ultra-left parliamentary party France Unbowed (LFI), left the courtroom accompanied by his family to the applause of a group of his supporters, AFP reports.
Abazaj told journalists that he sees hope in the decision for other radicals sought by Hungary. “There are other antifascists sought by Hungary, others in prison, but France has shown today that it does not have to submit to the demands of a country like Hungary, which is authoritarian and neofascist,” he said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long been subjected to criticism not just by left-wing activists, but also by the governments of many European countries or EU institutions. Among other matters, they are bothered by the effort to strengthen the influence of Orbán’s executive branch over the justice system or to limit the rights of civil society, minorities, and non-governmental organizations.
Orbán claims to be defending conservative values and Hungarian sovereignty from harmful influences allegedly coming from outside the country.
