ATHENS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) A Greek court of first instance has refused to release from custody Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who, in violation of Greek law, had been imprisoned for 20 months already without a court verdict, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the courtroom on Thursday.
Vinnik's lawyers have appealed for Vinnik's release. The prosecutor, in turn, suggested that in passing the judgment the court should be guided not by the constitution, which prohibits keeping a person in pre-trial detention without a court verdict for more than 18 months, but by the Criminal Procedure Code, which extends this period to 30 months.
"The court rejects the petition as inadmissible. The court considers this case to be outside its jurisdiction. It falls within the competence of the appellate court," the presiding judge said.
The prosecutor insisted that Vinnik had been arrested on the basis of a warrant, while the time frame for preliminary detention should be determined by the extradition process.
She recalled that there were two decisions on Vinnik's extradition to Russia and one decision on his extradition to the United States.
"I consider that it is necessary to reject the appeal for release," the prosecutor insisted.
Vinnik's lawyer, Zoe Konstantopoulou, urged judges to protect the constitution and justice, and to write a bright page in the history of the court.
"I take it for granted that if the period of pre-trial detention for the Greeks is limited, then it applies to everyone," the lawyer said, commenting on the prosecutor's statement.
Konstantopoulou opined that the prosecutor's suggestion violated the principles and foundations of the Greek constitution, discriminating citizens of other countries.
She said that the extradition of Vinnik to the United States violated the European Convention on Human Rights, as people in the United States could face not only execution, but also inappropriate detention conditions and torture. She recalled the infamous Guantanamo prison, where US guards tortured people.
"His life depends on you. I believe that this person should not be in prison. He is already serving a prison sentence, although he did not commit anything. He is a hostage of politics. You have the opportunity to do justice and write a bright page in the history of the court." Konstantopoulou concluded.
Vinnik was detained in Greece in July 2017 at the request of US authorities on various charges, including laundering $4 billion through bitcoin cryptocurrency exchange BTC-E, allegedly headed by Vinnik. The Russian national has denied the accusations. Russia, where he is wanted for separate fraud charges, and France also seek his extradition.
Meanwhile, the Greek authorities continue keeping Vinnik in custody for more than 20 months without bringing him to trial, which is a violation of the country's constitution. Since November 26, Vinnik has been on a hunger strike in protest of his rights violations. In late February, he was transferred to a specialized clinic over health issues caused by the months-long hunger strike.�
