Turkish court rejects extradition of Russian terrorist

By Abdulkerim Satuk Bugrahan Topaloglu

ADANA, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish court on Tuesday rejected Moscow’s request for extradition of a Russian national who received jail term over terror charges.

A southern Adana court rejected the extradition request citing his offense and also the start of execution of the punishment.

In March 2018, Renat Bakiev was handed down 12 years in prison for being a member of an armed terror group.

He was charged of being a member of Daesh terror group and plotting an attack on the U.S. military base in southern Turkey’s Adana province.

Rejecting all the charges against him in the court hearing, Bakiev said he had fled Russia just not to carry out the military service.

"I have no links with any terror group. I believe I will not be safe in Russia," Bakiev said.

The Russian was arrested while he was carrying out surveillance in preparation for an attack at the Incirlik air base, used by aircraft carrying out missions in Syria as part of the U.S.-led anti-Daesh coalition, in Adana.

According to an earlier police statement, Bakiev had confessed to being a member of Daesh and being in Adana to carry out an attack for the terror group.

He had been in contact with Daesh via the Telegram messaging app to raise 2,800 Turkish liras (about $793) to buy an aerial drone, the statement added.

Police said Bakiev had also targeted civilians and Alevi associations, practicing a form of Shia Islam, in the Adana area.