Interpol-wanted Uzbek extradited to Russia

An Uzbek citizen wanted by Interpol on suspicion of murder has been extradited from El Salvador to Russia, according to Irina Volk, official representative of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"A citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan was extradited from the Republic of El Salvador, accompanied by officers of the Interpol National Central Bureau of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service. He was accused of murder and placed on the international wanted list," Volk stated.

According to the investigation, the incident occurred in 2021 during a fight in St. Petersburg, where the suspect fatally stabbed a man in the chest with a sharp object. The victim died at the scene.

Following the attack, the suspect fled abroad. A criminal case was initiated under Part 1 of Article 105 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code (murder), and an international search was launched by the Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.

"Through Interpol channels, it was determined that the suspect was in El Salvador, where he was detained in May 2023," Volk said.

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office submitted an extradition request, which was granted by the Salvadoran authorities. The handover took place at San Salvador Airport, where the defendant was transferred to Russian law enforcement representatives for transport to Moscow.

“This extradition marks the first instance of cooperation of this kind between the competent authorities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of El Salvador,” Volk noted.