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STOCKHOLM, Aug 26 (AFP) - Estonia has refused to
extradite to Turkey a Swedish citizen and suspected
Kurdish militant who is wanted by Ankara for
manslaughter, but will send him to Sweden instead,
Swedish authorities said on Thursday.
"We have just received notice from the Estonian
foreign ministry that he will not be extradited to
Turkey but will be sent to Sweden instead," Swedish
foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Haakansson told
AFP.
"Estonia will not satisfy Turkey's request, because
the crimes Turkey accuses (Hemo Heybet) Amedsson of
have expired under Estonian laws," Estonian
government spokeswoman Kristi Kunnapas said in
Tallinn.
Turkish authorities requested earlier this month
that Estonia extradite Amedsson, 40, a Swedish
citizen who is suspected of belonging to banned
Kurdish militant group Kawa and who also figures on
an international wanted list.
Turkey has accused Amedsson of eight crimes,
including manslaughter, robbery and kidnapping,
allegedly committed in 1980.
According to the Committee of Solidarity with Hemo
Heybet Amedsson, which has urged Estonia to release
him to Sweden, Amedsson is a human rights activist
who participated in the struggle for cultural and
national rights of Kurdish people until 1980.
In a petition it claims that Amedsson was the only
eyewitness of a massacre of 15 people in December
1980 in a Kurdish town. After that Amedsson received
asylum in Sweden, which has refused Turkish requests
to extradite Amedsson.
"We have been in contact with the Estonian
authorities and have communicated our concerns with
him being extradited to Turkey.
"We explained why Sweden in the past has refused to
extradite him, but this was an independent decision
made by the Estonian authorities," Haakansson said,
adding that Amedsson would probably be sent to
Sweden within a few days.
http://www.turkishpress.com
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