Serbia court halts extradition of Belarus critic for retrial

On October 30, 2020, Belarusian filmmaker Andrei Hniot was arrested at Belgrade airport under an Interpol warrant issued by Belarus for alleged tax evasion. The Higher Court in Belgrade initially ruled for his extradition in June 2023, but this decision was overturned by an appeals court, which found insufficient evidence of tax evasion. The appeals court has now mandated a retrial of the case, marking the third time it has intervened in favor of Hniot. Hniot is known for his vocal opposition to the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko, having documented the mass protests against the government in 2020. He expressed fears for his safety, claiming that returning to Belarus could result in torture or death due to his activism. His lawyer indicated that they would continue to appeal if extradition conditions were deemed met again. International organizations, including Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Serbia not to extradite Hniot, highlighting the risks he faces. Additionally, over 70 European artists and filmmakers have signed an open letter opposing the extradition, emphasizing the use of Interpol warrants as a tactic by the Lukashenko regime to target pro-democracy activists globally. Despite the extradition ruling, Hniot has been released from prison but remains under strict conditions, including wearing a tracking ankle bracelet and being limited to one hour of outdoor time daily. The case reflects ongoing tensions between Serbia's relations with Belarus and the international community's stance on human rights violations in the region.