The High Court has refused the Russian Federation permission to appeal the decision of the Chief Magistrate that there is no effective independent monitoring of Russian prisons, which resulted in the discharge of four individuals facing extradition. The Senior District Judge found that there was a real risk of violating the individual’s rights under Article 3 of the European Court of Human Rights if they were extradited due to the lack of independent monitoring. In refusing permission on the papers, Mr Justice Robin Knowles found that on the findings made, the Senior District Judge’s decision was “plainly correct” and “there is no room for an appeal”.
This decision effectively halts all Russian extradition requests in the UK.
Alex Bailin QC and James Stansfeld, instructed by Cambrose Solicitors, acted for one of the four Respondents.