Prosecutor does not approve request for extradition of Turkish citizens suspected as Gulen accomplice

Due to lack of material evidence, a Kosovo prosecutor withdrew demand for the extradition of Ugur Tosoy, Turkish citizen, wanted by Turkish authorities on suspicion that he was a member of the organisation FETO, considered terrorist in Ankara.

The court has accepted the prosecutor's statement and will soon make the decision.

At the beginning of the session, Special Prosecutor Ali Rexha said the Turkish government's request was initially incomplete and that there was no material evidence.

He has earlier asked the Turkish Embassy in Pristina to provide valid material evidence for Toxoy's extradition, but that is not what happened, according to him.

If new facts are presented, the prosecutor may begin the case again.

Toxoy was arrested on October 28th and kept several days in custody before being released on bail.

Ugur Toxoy, who lives with his family in Kosovo for 10 years and has worked as co-ordinator of the Atmosphera Education Foundation at the Prizren branch, which provides educational and cultural services for young people.

In the past three years, he has not visited Turkey. Toxoy's lawyer says there is no evidence that his client is linked to the movement of Turkish religious leader Fetullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of standing behind the failed 2016 coup.

The Atmosphere Foundation has told Free Europe Radio that it has nothing to do with Gulen Movement, adding that they have organised promotion of his books. Kosovo's Human Rights Council says this is a politically motivated case.