Justice commissioner backs Austria in KGB row with Lithuania

EUObserver reported that Austria had no legal obligation to deliver ex-KGB general Mikhail Golovatov to Lithuania, since the crimes he was accused of occurred eleven years before before the European arrest warrant entered into force, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said on the 19 July 2011.

The release of Golovatov on the 15 July 2011, less than 24 hours after his arrest, sparked an intense diplomatic row between Lithuania and Austria, with Vilnius accusing Vienna of violating EU and national law and lack of solidarity with another member state.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 25.7.11: Lithuania suspects Russian meddling in Austrian KGB row http://euobserver.com/9/32655

EUObserver, 18.7.11: Austria and Lithuania lock horns over ex-KGB general http://euobserver.com/9/32637

ESO: Background information: EU Commission warns of European Arrest Warrant misuse http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-commission-warns-of-european-arrest-warrant-misuse/

Wikipedia: European Arrest Warrant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Arrest_Warrant

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