A Virginia judge has allowed a suspected war criminal living in the state to be extradited to Bosnia, where he faces charges of torturing civilians as a prison guard during the Bosnian war, according to The News & Advance.
U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou granted the extradition order on Monday for Almaz Nezirovic, 54, who has been held in a local prison since last year.
Ballou wrote in his official ruling that "sufficient cause exists" about Nezirovic's suspected war crimes. The judge's ruling came after a non-criminal judicial proceeding last year.
"Almaz Nezirovic stands charged with horrific acts of torture by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina," said U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy. "Today's ruling moves this matter one step closer to ultimate resolution in that country."
Nezirovic allegedly beat prisoners with rifles and batons, starved them, made them crawl naked on the ground, and eat grass soaked in urine.
When questioned about the alleged war crimes, Nezirovic defended his actions by claiming they were minimal compared to the violence carried out in the war.
"Nezirovic's suggestion that the torture of civilians is somehow justified by the general cruelty of ongoing war is contrary to basic provisions of international law, which prohibit such crimes against humanity," Ballou wrote in response.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia put in the order of extradition on behalf of the Bosnian government. If the U.S. State Department accepts the ruling, Nezirovic will be on his way to his home country.
The state department will review the case and make their final decision based on a number of factors, such as if the case interferes with foreign policy issues, whether Bosnia's judicial system is fair, and whether Nezirovic would be safe after returning to his home.
Fay Spence, an assistant public defender who represents the suspected war criminal, said she is disappointed in the ruling and plans on filing an appeal. She also said she would fight the order for him in front of the state department, if needed.
"I believe he will mysteriously show up dead," Spence said of Nezirovic, if sent back to Bosnia.
