Extradition and international legal cooperation represent a high-stakes intersection of domestic criminal procedure and public international law. This field governs the formal processes by which one sovereign state requests and obtains assistance from another in criminal matters. Our firm provides specialized legal defense and counsel to individuals and corporations navigating these complex and time-sensitive proceedings, which include formal extradition requests, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) execution, and challenges to Interpol notices.
In Georgia, extradition proceedings are rigorously governed by Book X of the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia and the Law of Georgia on International Cooperation in Criminal Matters. These domestic laws operate in concert with a network of bilateral and multilateral treaties, most notably the European Convention on Extradition. We provide robust legal representation for individuals whose surrender is sought by a foreign state. Our defense strategy involves a meticulous review of the extradition request to ensure full compliance with all procedural and substantive legal requirements.
A core component of our defense is challenging the admissibility of an extradition request. We are experts in arguing all available grounds for refusal before the Georgian courts, which have the final authority to grant or deny extradition. This includes defenses that the request is for a political offense, that the individual faces a risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment (a violation of Article 3 of the ECHR), that they would not receive a fair trial, or that the request violates the principle of ne bis in idem (double jeopardy).
Beyond the surrender of persons, our practice covers Mutual Legal Assistance (MLATs). These are formal state-to-state requests for assistance in a criminal investigation, such as gathering evidence, executing search and seizure warrants, freezing assets, or compelling witness testimony. We advise clients who are the target of, or are implicated in, an MLAT request, ensuring that their procedural rights and data privacy are protected throughout the process as enforced by Georgian authorities.
Furthermore, we provide critical counsel on Interpol Red Notices. A Red Notice is an international alert requesting the provisional arrest of an individual pending extradition. However, these notices are often open to abuse and may be issued for politically motivated or non-criminal matters. Our firm has the expertise to challenge the validity of a Red Notice by filing for its deletion or correction directly with the Commission for the Control of Interpol's Files (CCF) in Lyon, France, often in parallel with domestic extradition defense.
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