Hearing of Ablyazov's extradition to Ukraine postponed again

Aix-en-Provence court of France has postponed the hearing of the Ukrainian request of extradition of the former head of Kazakhstan's BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov until December 12, RIA Novosti reports citing the local media. The hearing of the case over extradition of Ablyazov to Ukraine was initially scheduled for September, but was later postponed until December, because Ukraine submitted all the extradition documents in the French and Ukrainian languages, neither of which Ablyazov understands, and he requested a translation, so the hearing was rescheduled. "We received most of the documents on Ablyazov's extradition request from Ukraine only yesterday, including the warrant dated 2010 that was ground for his arrest," Attorney General of Aix-en-Provence Court of the French court Solange Legras said. A similar hearing of Russia's extradition request was scheduled for December 12 by the French appeals court of Aix-en-Provence. Ablyazov was arrested on the extradition request from Ukraine in the south of France near Cannes by French special forces on July 31. Ablyazov filed motions requesting his release on bail twice, while being in custody in France. But the court rejected both motions, because no sufficient guarantees were provided and the court believed that the former head of BTA Bank would flee as soon as he is out of prison, bail or not. At present Aix-en-Provence court is deciding on the extradition of Ablyazov. Three countries are demanding his extradition. However, Kazakhstan has no extradition agreement with France; extradition to Russia is possible, but there are some limitations. So Ukraine is the most likely candidate to obtain extradition of Ablyazov from France.