AUSTRIA’S HASTY DECISION TO RELEASE THE SUSPECT IN JANUARY 13TH CASE UNDERMINES PRINCIPLE OF EU SOLIDARITY, BALTIC FOREIGN MINISTERS SAY
The hasty decision taken by Austrian authorities to release the suspect in the so-called “January 13th case” diminished the efficient international legal cooperation in criminal cases among EU member states, as well as the principle of EU solidarity, reads the letter of the Baltic foreign ministers to the European Commission.
The letter of 19 July by Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, Latvian Foreign Minister Girts Kristovskis and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Estonia Urmas Paet to European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding and EU foreign ministers expressed concern over the rapidity of the decision of Austrian institutions to release the suspect, a citizen of the Russian Federation Mikhail Golovatov.“We emphasize that European Arrest Warrant as an instrument of mutual trust within EU should be effectively applied in practice in order to arrest and surrender persons, especially involved in the war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the letter reads.
On 15 July, Lithuanian officials were informed that on 14 July in Austria, the citizen of Russia Mikhail Golovatov who is a suspect in January 13th case was arrested on the European Arrest Warrant of 18 October 2010. On 15-16 July, Friday night, Lithuania received a confirmation that the suspect was released. Austria’s motives for such a hasty decision are not yet known to Lithuania.
Both Lithuania and Latvia have presented notes to Austria, which request to explain the circumstances.
