The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia has explained why France has not extradited former governor of Syunik Province Surik Khachatryan to Armenia, the RFE/RL Armenian Service reports.

Accordingly, the extradition request was denied in accordance with the respective reservation made by France regarding the European Convention on Extradition. In view of that, the extradition request may be denied if it may cause extreme adverse consequences for the requested person—and in particular due to age or health.

At the end of November, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia informed that France refused to extradite Khachatryan to Armenia. The judicial bodies based this decision on the European Convention on Extradition, according to which "Khachatryan's extradition may have extremely serious consequences for him."

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia, however, did not elaborate on what severe consequences were referred to in the aforesaid conclusion of the French judicial bodies.

The influential former governor of Syunik during the government of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia, is known for many scandalous crimes, and has been wanted by Armenia since 2019. In Armenia, he is charged with official forgery, squandering, and abuse of power. Back in 2020, however, Surik Khachatryan claimed that he had not committed any illegalities, and said that he was undergoing treatment abroad, after which he would return to Armenia.