Ombudsman criticizes fast-track extraditions

The Ombudsman has criticized what he calls “fast-track” extraditions of foreigners at Prague’s Ruzyne Airport. Pavel Varvarovsky says that his office has looked into several complaints and found that in many cases foreigners do not get a proper interpreter and are not fully informed about their rights before being extradited from the country. The Ombudsman says that some are not given a chance to contact their lawyer and NGOs advising foreigners do not have access to the offices where these cases are dealt with. He has urged the authorities to put matters right, saying that extraditions where foreigners’ rights are violated are illegal.