Latvia, Legislation, USA

As reported, Latvian government on Tuesday decided to extradite Calovskis to the United States, but Calovskis' attorneys have sent a number of documents to the ECHR, asking the court to adopt a temporary decision to halt extradition to the United States.

In the meantime, Calovskis is still in Riga Central Prison, as Latvian Prison Administration confirmed to LETA.

Cabinet of Ministers representative at international human rights organizations, Kristine Lice, informed LETA that she had received the ECHR letter. The letter says Calovskis may not be extradited to the United States while his case is being reviewed by the ECHR, she said.

Usually such cases are given priority by the ECHR, explained Lice. She said she would notify the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry and Prosecutor General's Office about the ECHR decision. The ECHR has indicated that if its decision is not observed, this could be viewed as a violation of Article 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR offers no comment on whether Calovskis should be kept in jail, the ECHR has only said that he may not be extradited to the United States, added Lice.

Varpins also said that should Latvia fail to respect the ECHR decision, this would mean a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and of international obligations of Latvia.

As reported, Latvian government on Tuesday decided to extradite Calovskis to the United States, but Calovskis' attorneys have sent a number of documents to the ECHR, asking the court to adopt a temporary decision to halt extradition to the United States.