US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA1077

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 001077 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR L/LEI KEN PROPP 
USEU FOR MARK RICHARD/FRANK KERBER 
DOJ FOR OIA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 
TAGS: KJUS, PREL, LO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS UNLIKELY TO EXTRADITE NATIONALS OUTSIDE 
THE EU 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Branislav Bohacik, Director of the Judicial 
Cooperation in Criminal Matters Division of the Slovak 
Ministry of Justice, told emboffs 11/19 that Slovakia wants 
to update its bilateral extradition treaty with the United 
States and looks forward to negotiations on a bilateral 
protocol to the U.S.-EU treaty on extradition.  He was 
especially interested in opening talks on a bilateral mutual 
legal assistance treaty (MLAT). 
 
2. (C) Polec chief probed Bohacik about the potential to 
extradite Slovak nationals to the U.S.  He answered that it 
would be nearly impossible.  The only reason the Slovaks had 
changed their laws to allow extradition of nationals was for 
judicial cooperation within the EU, and that had been a hard 
fight.  Even with caveats that exist in some EU countries, 
such as allowing convicted citizens to serve their sentences 
at home and not extraditing in cases where the death penalty 
could be awarded, he could not imagine that Slovakia would 
ever agree to extradite its citizens so far away. 
 
3. (C) Bohacik requested a point of contact in the State 
Department, with whom he can informally exchange information 
on particular cases and points of law.  Post is aware of at 
least one potential case pending in the U.S. which could 
involve an extradition request of a Slovak national, and 
strongly recommends establishing such a relationship with Mr. 
Bohacik.  We would be happy to facilitate email or telephone 
contact, once we have permission from L. 
 
WEISER 
 
 
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