French court validates extradition of activist Rexhino Abazaj to Germany

The French Cour de cassation has upheld the decision to extradite Rexhino ‘Gino’ Abazaj, an Albanian antifascist activist, to Germany. This ruling confirms a previous decision by the Paris Court of Appeal to authorize his transfer under a European Arrest Warrant.

Abazaj is sought by German authorities for alleged violence committed in Budapest in February 2023 during a confrontation with neo-Nazi participants. While a previous attempt by Hungary to extradite him was blocked by French courts due to concerns regarding the independence of the Hungarian judiciary and the risk of inhumane treatment, the current mandate is issued by Germany.

Defense lawyers have expressed concern that extradition to Berlin could serve as a precursor to a transfer to Hungary. They cited the precedent of Maja T., a German activist who was extradited to Hungary before the German Federal Constitutional Court later ruled the transfer illegal.