A London court has rejected Ukraine’s request to extradite Artem Dmytruk, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, following allegations of his involvement in violent incidents. The Westminster Magistrates’ Court made this decision on March 4, citing concerns over Dmytruk’s human rights.
The judge referenced Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life. The court noted that Dmytruk had previously reported being tortured by the Security Service of Ukraine in March 2022, a factor that influenced the ruling against extradition.
Dmytruk, affiliated with the political group “Restoration of Ukraine,” has been a vocal supporter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and opposed legislation aimed at banning it. His legal representative, Robert Amsterdam, indicated that Dmytruk fled to Moldova and then to the United Kingdom seeking asylum due to what he described as persecution related to his political stance.
Amsterdam also highlighted Dmytruk’s active role in defending his community against Russian aggression, stating that he formed a territorial defense unit in March 2022. Despite this, the Ukrainian government has pursued extradition based on charges that Dmytruk assaulted law enforcement officers in Odessa and Kyiv.
According to reports, Dmytruk allegedly attacked a police officer in Odessa in an attempt to seize their weapon and later assaulted a soldier in Kyiv, causing moderate injuries. Former Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin suggested that Dmytruk may have received assistance from officials to cross the border.
The Ukrainian authorities now have 14 days to decide whether to appeal the court’s decision. If they choose not to pursue an appeal, they may issue an international search warrant for Dmytruk.
On August 29, the State Bureau of Investigations and the Office of the Prosecutor General announced that Dmytruk had been placed on an international wanted list.
A UK court has denied Ukraine's extradition request for MP Artem Dmytruk, citing human rights concerns linked to his reported torture by Ukrainian authorities. Dmytruk faces charges in Ukraine but claims his actions were politically motivated.