Politis

Cyprus Supreme Court Rejects Russian Citizen's Habeas Corpus Petition

Published January 16, 2026, 19:23
Cyprus Supreme Court Rejects Russian Citizen's Habeas Corpus Petition

The Cyprus Supreme Court has rejected a habeas corpus petition filed by a Russian citizen facing tax evasion charges in Russia and at risk of extradition to stand trial there. The petitioner argued that human rights are violated in Russian prisons and that he would be subjected to torture and degrading treatment. However, the Court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate a real risk of rights violations, given that the charges against him relate to common criminal offenses and not political activity. Furthermore, the Court noted that the conditions in Russian prisons are not such that there is a reasonable likelihood of the petitioner being mistreated simply because of his status as a new arrival. The decision was based on the assessment that the petitioner does not belong to categories of individuals commonly targeted in Russia, such as political activists or journalists.