Already five European countries have refused to extradite men who have escaped mobilization to Ukraine
However, some countries may take this step if it is established that the men avoided conscription through bribery.
The Czech authorities will not extradite men who have escaped mobilization to Ukraine, said the spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, Vladimir Rzepka.
Source. This was reported by The Moscow Times with reference to the local edition of Idnes.
He explained this decision by the European Convention, which excludes extradition for war crimes such as evasion of military service, desertion or disobedience to command orders.
At the same time, Rzepka noted that Ukrainian courts can request the extradition of a specific person. For example, extradition may be allowed if it is established that a citizen has forged documents to be released from service or purchased a so-called "white ticket" for a bribe on health grounds.
The Prosecutor General's Office said that it has not received any official requests from Kyiv regarding citizens in the Czech Republic who are evading service in the Armed Forces. According to Idnes, there are about 90,000 Ukrainians in the Czech Republic who "could theoretically serve in the army."
Earlier, Poland, Austria, Germany, and Hungary declared their refusal to extradite evaders to Ukraine. Warsaw clarified that in order to start the extradition procedure, Ukraine must issue an international arrest warrant for each of them. According to the Polish Border Guard Service, about 80,000 Ukrainians of military age have entered the country since the beginning of the war.
The Austrian authorities have taken a categorical position.
"We will never do this. It would be an attempt to interfere with our asylum system and our sovereignty. No one can even think that Austria would do this," the Interior Ministry said. According to the ministry, there are 14,000 Ukrainians who are fit for military service in Austria. They are registered as refugees.
Germany has also refused to extradite men who have escaped mobilization to Ukraine. However, the authorities have declared their readiness to expel those who avoided the draft by paying a bribe. According to the German Interior Ministry, more than 184,000 Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 who arrived after the outbreak of the war remain in the country.
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