Lawyers for Russian Alexander Vinnik demanded that the question of his extradition back to Greece be considered, according to TASS.
Representing Vinnik, Zoe Konstantinopoulou, at a hearing in the Paris Court of Appeal, pointed to the illegality of his transfer from Greece to France and spoke of human rights violations.
“We intend to seek clarification about how valid the European arrest warrant on which he was sent to France is, and we insist that his return there should not happen automatically,” said another of Vinnik’s lawyers, Frédéric Belo.
The defence also stressed that during the hearings in the correctional court the Russian was acquitted on virtually all charges brought by the French prosecutor.
The defence also noted that Alexander Vinnik is currently in a severe psychological state and there is a risk of suicide.
As reported, the Russian was extradited to France from Greece in January last year.
In December, the Paris court sentenced Vinnik to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of €100,000.
Besides appealing in France, the lawyers filed a lawsuit against the judges who made the decision to extradite him to Paris.
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