Montenegro offers political asylum to Russian-wanted businessman

Montenegro has offered political asylum to Azerbaijani businessman Teman Ismailov, his lawyer, Milos Vuksanovic, for Radio Free Europe (RFE) on Friday, 22 October.

“Ismailov was granted political asylum in Montenegro by the competent body at the Montenegrin Ministry of Internal Affairs and he was released from custody”, Vuksanovic said.

Ismailov was arrested in Podgorica after an arrest warrant and request for extradition. Businessman Ismailov was staying in custody, which was decided by the Podgorica Supreme Court.

The court has said it has “risking escape” following his arrest.

Meanwhile, on 15 October, Montenegro has accepted an official request from Russia's Prosecutor General for the extradition of Ismailov.

Lawyer Vuksanovic believes he cannot be extradited to Russia “after being offered political asylum”.

My “interpretation of the Law on International Juridical Assistance is that a person enjoying asylum in Montenegro cannot be extradited to another state”, Vuksanovic told Radio Free Europe.

Media have reported that he is wanted for involvement in the murder of two businessmen, but after the arrest in Montenegro, his lawyer had said Ismailov denies this and calls Russia's arrest warrant against him as a result of political and economic persecution.

Media reported that at the end of 2018, his son, Alekper Ismailov, bought half of Kazinno Avala's equity capital in Budva in Montenegro.

However, at Montenegro's Central Business Register on 4 October 2021, Alecper Ismailov's name is not written as part of the company's ownership.

His father was once one of the businessmen with multiple connections in Russia. In 2009, Russian authorities closed a market in an external environment due to <x0-trice and security violations” and the carrying out of illegal activities.

At the time, Russia's Detective Committee said that the market functioned as a <x0->state within a state of”. Critics say closing the Cherizovsky market may have been part of a battle for real estate in Moscow.

This businessman has been targeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin because of his luxurious lifestyle.

Putin has said that the billions of dollars earned in Russia should be invested in the country, not in projects abroad.

Ismailov eventually fled Russia and his property there was confiscated.