In an unusual move the US State Department issued the following press statement on November 27, 2018:
Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
The United States requested the extradition of two suspected Russian arms dealers, Vladimir Lyubishin Sr. and Vladimir Lyubishin Jr., pursuant to the U.S.-Hungary Extradition Treaty. Hungary denied the U.S. request and instead extradited the suspects to Russia, where it is unclear whether they will face trial.
The United States is disappointed in the Hungarian government’s decision to extradite the Lyubishins to Russia. The United States had a strong case, built in cooperation with members of Hungarian law enforcement. Hungary is a partner and friend of the United States, but this decision raises questions about Hungary’s commitment to law enforcement cooperation. This decision is not consistent with our law enforcement partnership, undercuts the work that our agencies had done together to build this case, and will make citizens in the United States, Hungary, and the world less safe.
Background: As part of a large scale US-led international sting operation, called Perseus, Hungarian authorities arrested two Russian arm dealers in Hungary on November 9, 2016. A week later District Court, S.D New York filed charges (United States v. Lyubishin 1:16-cr-00764) and initiated extradition procedures.
Russia also initiated extradition procedures and to the surprise of US officials, Hungarian authorities rejected the US request and transferred the Lyubishins to Russia!
Hungary-US relations were unfriendly during the Obama administration and now the relationship is turning openly hostile with Trump. Relations between the countries have reached a 30-year low. Hungary is firmly under Putin’s influence.
György Lázár
“this case, will make citizens in the United States, Hungary, and the world less safe.”
Right on !! So what will the Donald do about it ? Nothing. (I stand corrected: He may in fact fire the State Department Officials who issued the statement above.)
Hungary is a Mafia State like Saudi Arabia. The Donald has thrown his lot in with the Godfathers, and has thrown the democratic opposition and the people of both of these countries – never mind North Korea, Turkey, Russia – under the bus. Yankie Doodle Dandy has turned into “The Ugly American”. We shall overcome, but we shall not forget !!
The Note states that they were taken into custody in November of 2016. That was 2 years ago.
But no other dates are disclosed as the events supposedly might have unfolded.
This press statement was released in Nov. of 2018.
Somebody fallen into a real long sleep ?!
Those two might have been long dust and ashes someplace in Siberia.
Don not forget, “time is the essence” !!!
Mr. Trumped promised not to interfere in other country’s policies. The people from the state department who want to interfere are probably Obama left overs. Prior to the April election, the State Department wanted to give 700,000 dollars to FIDESZ news media opponents, that was stopped by Mr. Trump.
The Macedonian prime minister was threatened by political opponents and was afraid for his life. That is a good reason for asylum.
„The Macedonian prime minister was threatened by political opponents and was afraid for his life. That is a good reason for asylum.“
So it is with all asylum seekers, they was threatened by political opponents, in Hungary the Govermend, and was afraid for their “life”.
Like the ones who came, they was threatened by political opponents and was afraid for their life and “life”.
Then Orban is an asylum seekers savior?
mburka
So the US gov wanted to give to countryside media $ 700 k, what was wrong with that? Oh, i forgot we can’t have independent media in Orbanistan.
The regime on the other hand can spend close to $ 700 000 k yearly on propaganda, Hu taxpayers money. This is how a dictatorship runs.
According to Orban Macedonia is a “safe country”, where nobody is threatened and the legal system works (so the refugees should stay there).
Gruevski lost an election, was convicted, withdrew 100 k EUR cash and sat into a Hu CD car to flee justice. Orbán was happy to meddle in Mac politics, break intl. law and accept one from his “culture”, bribes notwithstanding.
Welcome to Orbanistan!
“So the US gov wanted to give to countryside media $ 700 k, what was wrong with that? Oh, i forgot we can’t have independent media in Orbanistan.”
If Russians or Chinese would do the same in the US, they would have a hissy fit. In order to make it proportional, it would mean either of them allocating about $25 million to the cause, which would be noticed for sure. Are the Americans against independent media as well?
I am not sure that media sponsored by other governments, meant to push their own agenda fits the description of “independent media”. But then again, I think most media no longer fits that description, as I pointed out recently, with the way the NGO, advocates abroad story (coaching migrants to lie) was skillfully buried in much of the Western world, it is hard to still claim that it exists on any meaningful scale.