I v Russian Federation [2018] EWHC 696 (Admin) [2022]

Ceylon Giles assisted in the successful appeal against extradition in I v Russian Federation, a long-running case in which the CPS ultimately conceded it could no longer contest the defence challenge. The RP was originally arrested in 2016 for a fraud conviction, which he maintained was politically motivated and instigated by a business rival. He also challenged extradition on the basis of the appalling prison conditions in Krasnodar.

At the initial hearing, despite concerns over a controversial prison inspection, during which the authorities staged “presentations” to appear compliant, the Court accepted Russian assurances. The RP later absconded in 2018 and was re-arrested in 2021.

Ceylon worked with Counsel Malcolm Hawkes to adduce fresh expert evidence from Professor Judith Pallot, which wholly undermined the earlier findings. The new material showed that Krasnodar prisons were controlled by violent prisoner-enforcers, monitoring bodies had lost all independence, and systemic abuse was routinely concealed, confirmed by leaked body-cam footage of prisoners being raped, beaten, and humiliated. The ECtHR judgment in Tomov v Russia and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly given Krasnodar’s proximity to the conflict, further demonstrated the real risk of Article 3 ill-treatment.

The High Court granted the RP’s application to re-open his appeal under s.108(5) Extradition Act 2003 and quashed the 2016 extradition order. With the CPS conceding it could no longer rely on Russian assurances, the extradition request collapsed, and the RP was released.