Ukraine is seeking the extradition of Aleksandr Franchetti, a former Russian paramilitary who played a significant role in Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea and is reported by Myrotvorets to have received one of the Kremlin’s medals ‘for the return of Crimea’. Franchetti also has residence status in the Czech Republic and was detained on Sunday evening, September 12, at Prague Airport on the basis of an international warrant issued by Ukraine. His detention has been closely followed by Russian and Russian-controlled Crimean media and politicians, with Aleksandr Molokhov, a member of the occupation ‘government’ describing the move as “a dangerous precedent”. This is very much to be hoped, and certainly, the Czech Republic has been particularly active in prosecuting its own nationals and residents for fighting on the side of the Russian-controlled militants in occupied Donbas.
