Following the arrest of Albanian-Italian activist Gino in Paris, MEP Ilaria Salis has sharply criticised the authorities. The first hearing on the possible extradition to Hungary is due to take place on Wednesday.
At the behest of the Hungarian Public Prosecutor’s Office, French police arrested another activist in Paris last week who is wanted for taking part in anti-fascist protests in Budapest. As an Italian solidarity group reported on Saturday, Gino, who comes from Albania and whose real name is Rexhino Abazaj, was then taken to Fresnes prison near the capital. The arrest was based on a European arrest warrant accusing him of alleged involvement in offences relating to the so-called ‘Day of Honour’ in the Hungarian capital in February 2023.
The ‘Day of Honour’ is an annual gathering of right-wing extremists that regularly provokes anti-fascist counter-protests. According to police reports, there were several attacks between 9 and 11 February 2023 in which international activists are said to have attacked actual or alleged right-wing extremists. Four people were seriously injured and five others were slightly injured. Hungary’s public prosecutor’s office is said to have issued European arrest warrants for two people from Italy, an Albanian, a Syrian and ten Germans.
Shortly after the ‘Day of Honour’, the Hungarian police had already arrested the Italian Ilaria Salis and the two activists Tobias E. and Anna M. from Germany. Ten months later, their trial began in Budapest for various criminal offences and membership of a criminal organisation. Tobias E., who comes from Berlin, agreed to a summary trial with giving statements and now expects to be released soon after serving his sentence.
The non-binary activist Maja T. was extradited from Germany to Budapest in a blitz this summer. The possible handover of Hanna, who is imprisoned in Nuremberg, is currently being examined. She is accused of ‘attempted murder’ in Budapest. Ten days ago, police in Thuringia arrested Johann G., who is wanted in connection with German investigations into attacks on right-wing extremists, but also for alleged acts during the ‘Day of Honour’ two years ago.
Ilaria Salis is also still threatened with extradition to Hungary, although she had to be temporarily released following her election to the European Parliament in the summer. Hungary recently applied for her parliamentary immunity to be waived, and the responsible parliamentary committee must now decide on this. The Hungarian extradition request would then be processed in Italy by the same judicial authorities that have already rejected the transfer of Gabriele M., who is also wanted in the so-called Budapest complex. They referred to the inhumane detention conditions in Hungary.
On Tuesday, ‘Il Manifesto’ published further details about Gino. According to the report, the 32-year-old was born in Elbasan, Albania. He came to Italy in 1995 and lived there for 20 years. He is now an active member of the anti-fascist sports club Menilmontant FC in Paris and campaigns for equality in sport.
The Metropolitan Court of Budapest has issued the European arrest warrant against Gino for an “attempt of life-threatening battery committed as an accomplice in the framework of a criminal organization”, a spokes person explained “nd”. The decision on his possible extradition now lies with a French court, where an initial hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. There, Gino must state whether he agrees to be extradited to Hungary. If he refuses, the case will be brought before the Paris Court of Appeal. This court has ruled on similarly important cases in the past. In July 2022, itrejected the extradition of ten former militants from the years of armed struggle to Italy. The extradition of Vincenzo Vecchi, one of the 10 wanted for the G8 riots in Genoa, was also heard at the Paris Court of Appeal.
On Monday, MEP Salis expressed her concern about the case on Instagram. She warned that neither a fair trial nor humane detention conditions were guaranteed in Hungary. Salis saw the fact that Gino was denied citizenship despite over 20 years of regular residence in Italy as an expression of systemic racism.
In Germany, the BASC solidarity alliance is committed to supporting those imprisoned and persecuted in the ‘Budapest complex’. It sees Gino’s arrest as part of a ‘Europe-wide hunt’ against anti-fascists. ‘We condemn any extradition to Hungary – whether from Germany, France or any other country,’ declared the BASC in response to an enquiry from “nd”, citing the lack of independence of the judiciary there as one of the reasons.
Published in German in „nd“.
Image: Gino (Italian solidarity group).
