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Spanish Court Orders Extradition Of Kazakh Fugitive Banker's Bodyguard


Disgraced businessman Mukhtar Ablyazov
Disgraced businessman Mukhtar Ablyazov
Lawyers for a former bodyguard and close associate of Kazakh fugitive oligarch Mukhtar Ablyazov say they will appeal a Spanish court's ruling to extradite their client to Kazakhstan.

A Madrid court issued the decision regarding Aleksandr Pavlov on July 22. Pavlov is sought by Astana on bank-fraud and terrorism charges.

Pavlov's lawyers say the charges are baseless and aimed at obtaining information on Ablyazov's whereabouts. Ablyazov, a wealthy former banker and influential opposition figure, fled Kazakhstan in 2009. His current location is unknown.

He faces embezzlement charges in Kazakhstan.

Ablyazov's wife and 6-year-old daughter were extradited from Italy to Kazkakhstan in May.

They were expelled despite having valid residence permits.

A senior Italian civil servant resigned over the wrongful deportation.

In 2011, Britain granted Ablyazov political asylum.
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