Court Blocks Extradition Over Unreliable Assurances From Greece and Lack of Re-Trial Rights

Our client was sought by the Greek authorities to serve a lengthy custodial sentence in connection with a grievous bodily harm offence involving an acid attack, dating back to 2001.

In an important decision handed down on 28 May 2026, the Judge found that the assurances provided by the Greek authorities—purporting to safeguard our client against inhuman or degrading treatment arising from prison conditions—could not be relied upon. The defence relied on evidence from Professor Konstantinos Tsitselikis and identified two prior instances in which similar assurances given to English courts had been breached. The Judge concluded that the evidence, coupled with the response provided by the Greek authorities, raised the risk of ill-treatment proscribed by the European Convention of Human Rights to a real one.

During the proceedings, the court also heard evidence from Alexis Anagnostakis in relation to matters of Greek criminal law and procedure. On this basis, the Judge held that our client was not deliberately from the Greek trial, and that the applicable Greek law does not provide an automatic right to a re-trial, in line with the recent jurisprudence of the UK Supreme Court. As such, the client was also discharged pursuant to section 20 of the Extradition Act.

The decision will not be appealed.

Enrico Braguglia prepared this case under the supervision of Katy Smart. Graeme Hall of Doughty Street Chambers was Instructed Counsel.