Ecuador rejects fugitive policeman's extradition to Belarus

A court of Ecuador rejected an extradition request for Alexander Barankov.

The court also upheld the decision to grant asylum for Barankov in Ecuador, BBC reports.

Alexander Barankov states he exposed corruption among high-ranking officials in Belarus and had to flee from the country.

Belarus accuses him of frauds and extortion. Minsk investigators think captain Barankov and his co-worker used their positions to look for rich businessman, collect dirt on them and demand money to close eyes to violations.

The Belarusian KGB, which initiated a criminal case against the former policeman, says the story is entirely criminal and the second person involved in the case – a former law-enforcement officer – was already convicted.

Captain Alexander Barankov, a former Belarusian police officer and then a border service officer, left Belarus  for Ecuador in 2009. He was granted asylum in 2010.

Barankov started a blog – Belaruslibre – in Spanish. The latest post appeared in January 2012.

Belarus sent an extradition request for Barankov in 2011, but it was then rejected by a court for procedural reasons.