Extradition and Election Pose Test of Bulgaria’s EU Commitment

The case centres around the District Court of Varna, which recently ruled that Alexey Alchin, a Russian national, could be extradited to Russia on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by Moscow. This decision was upheld by the Varna Court of Appeals and leaves Mr. Alchin in an extremely vulnerable position.

Mr. Alchin is a businessman who ran a successful business removing precious metals from scrap and who left Russia in 2017. In Varna, he set up a new business teaching martial arts to local children.

He came to attention earlier this year, in the immediate aftermath of the February 24 Russian assault on Ukraine, when he burned his Russian passport and identity documents at a public protest in Varna against the war. Moscow argues that he failed to pay Value Added Tax of more than €4.5 million in 2015 before leaving Russia.

Mr. Alchin was first arrested in May, then released after two weeks and placed under house arrest by the Bulgarian authorities. He was returned to prison on August 1.

This case highlights a number of uncomfortable elements in Bulgaria's relationship with Russia and continuing concerns about the rule of law within the EU member state.

A man puts old shoes on the stairs in front of the cultural center of Russia, during the march in support of sovereign Ukraine, in Sofia, Bulgaria, 07 April 2022. Photo by EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

Out of step

Firstly, the decision of the judges is significantly at odds with EU policy towards Russia. Since February 24, no Russian national residing in the EU has been extradited to Moscow. In the meantime, Russia has been kicked out of the Council of Europe and become increasingly isolated internationally.

Moscow has also...