Romanian JusMin: Madagascar authorities Ok extradition request for Radu Mazare

Romanian interim Justice minister Ana Birchall has announced that authorities from Madagascar had admitted the extradition procedure of Radu Mazare, and that provisions on taking over the former mayor of Constanta will be enforced as a matter of urgency.

“The extradition procedure has been admitted by the authorities in Madagascar. From now on the provisions to take over Radu Mazare under escort from Madagascar by the Romanian authorised bodies are being enforced as a matter of urgency”, Birchall said.

Justice minister from Madagascar, Jean-Jacques Randrianasolo, had announced previously in Tuesday morning that Radu Mazare, former mayor of Constanta will be extradite to Romania, as L’Express de Madagascar reported and that Mazare had been informed that he will be extradited.

“This transfer file has been received by the Foreign Ministry and will be sent to the Justice Ministry today,” reads the newspaper.

However, it seems that the former Romanian mayor would have filed a request for asylum in Madagascar. Radu Mazare has been under arrest in a police section in Anosy, Madagascar for seven days.

The asylum request is to be judged by the Supreme Court in Madagascar on January 21, 2020, with sources saying Mazare cannot leave Madagascar until his asylum request is judged.

His protection falls under the authority of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees. „This man has the right to wait for an answer to his asylum request, an answer set to be provided on January 21, 2020. Meanwhile, we cannot force him to leave the country where he is seeking asylum”, said sources within the UN Commissioner for refugees.

The same sources said that Mazare has built a hotel in Antsiranana in Madagascar „and brought other important people to build companies, which is synonymous with the development of this region”.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry knew that Madagascar is ready to extradite Radu Mazare, but it has not yet responded the official request to release a copy of the international arrest warrant, Serge Rameau, Madagascar honorary general consul in Bucharest told RFI during the past weekend.