Moscow, Aug 30 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Ecuador's top court has rejected an extradition request for a former Belarusian investigative police officer.
According to Belarusian news portal Platforma, 30-year-old Alexander Barankov, wanted by Minsk on fraud charges, fled to Ecuador in 2009.
He said the charges were trumped up after he uncovered widespread corruption linked to senior government officials and people close to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Ecuador's National Court of Justice said Barankov could not be extradited due to his political refugee status. Ecuador granted Barankov asylum in 2010.
Barankov said he could be killed if sent back to his former homeland.
The case resurfaced when Ecuador granted asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, whose extradition from Britain was demanded by Sweden. Ecuador was concerned that Assange could face the death penalty if further extradited to the US.
--IANS/RIA Novosti
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