Spanish Court Delays Extradition Of Kazakh Bodyguard

An Interpol file photo of Mukhtar Ablyazov's ex-bodyguard Alexandr Pavlov

Spain's government has approved the extradition of Kazakh opposition tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov's former security chief, but a Spanish court has delayed the extradition process.

On February 20, the Open Dialogue Foundation in Poland quoted Aleksandr Pavlov's lawyer, Maria Costa Nuche, as saying that Spain's cabinet had approved her client's extradition February 14 without informing her.

However, she added that the extradition process was suspended by the National Court on February 20 until Pavlov's appeal against the rejection of his request for political asylum in Spain is looked into.

Pavlov, 37, was detained by Spain last year on an Interpol warrant requested by Kazakhstan, which accuses Pavlov of terrorism and embezzlement.

Pavlov’s former boss, Ablyazov, who is under arrest in France, is also wanted in Kazakhstan for allegedly stealing $6 billion during a government takeover of his bank in 2009.