Russia Frees Serbian Alleged Smuggler


26 June 2008 Belgrade _ An alleged cigarette smuggler from Serbia has been released from detention in Moscow, his lawyer says.

Vladimir Beljanski, the attorney for Stanko Subotic, wanted by Belgrade for his role in alleged cigarette smuggling racket in the 1990s did not give any more details on his client’s release.

Subotic was arrested on April 28 at a Moscow airport upon a warrant issued for him in Serbia.

Two days later, Serbia’s Justice Ministry requested his extradition from Russia but no response has reportedly reached Belgrade so far. Read more: http://balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9809

The extradition of Subotic, a Serbian businessman charged with organising a criminal group which illegally imported and sold cigarettes on the Serbian market between 1995 and 1996, was up to a Russian court to decide.

Another lawyer for Subotic, Vlado Pavicevic said it would have been better if the Serbian Justice Minister Dusan Petrovic had not signed the extradition request because it will take time to meet all the conditions.

“Hadn’t he signed it, the Russians would have simply let Subotic come to Belgrade for the May 19 trial,” he said adding Serbia “will now have to fulfill a number of extradition conditions and the whole process will last for months therefore the trial will have to be postponed.”

Pavicevic had earlier said Subotic was ready to show up before the court in Belgrade but on Thursday, Beljanski did not make any reference to that possibility.

Back in April, Belgrade daily Blic quoted a source saying that Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic had guaranteed Subotic’s free passage to Moscow.

The daily’s police source said that “Djukanovic’s guarantee was a safe basis that Subotic, regardless of an Interpol arrest warrant, will not be detained.”

Djukanovic was reported to have been a friend of Subotic and his name often emerged in relation to the cigarette smuggling of the 1990s.

__________________
Jesus beat the devil with two sticks. Colossian 2:13,15

Proud American!

Communism/Socialism is similar to legalizing burglary and murder!