Thewesternbalkans.
Serbian and foreign media reported that Chinese national Cui Guanghai, 43, and Briton John Miller, 63, whose extradition is sought by the United States on charges of espionage and smuggling military technology, have disappeared from house arrest in Belgrade after removing their electronic bracelets. Serbia’s Supreme Court confirmed the disappearance and ordered the issuance of arrest warrants.
The Chinese and the Briton (who holds US citizenship) were arrested in April in Belgrade on an international warrant at the request of the United States. The US Department of Justice said the two are suspected of “coordinating and leading a conspiracy to harass, intimidate and threaten a Los Angeles resident who has publicly criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping.” They wanted to prevent the victim from protesting President Xi’s appearance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November 2023. The FBI is investigating the case.
The investigative network BIRN previously announced that the US had brought two separate charges against the two – one for “organizing persecution and intimidation” and the other for attempting to illegally trade whit US military equipment and smuggle it into China.
Extradition proceedings were launched at Washington’s request and, after spending several weeks in detention, the two were placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring. But in mid-August, “the electronic monitoring system triggered an alarm”, the High Court told AFP on Tuesday. “When officials went to their registered addresses, it was established that the individuals whose extradition is sought were not present…“
Comment:
There is an Extradition Treaty between Serbia and the United States, which was ratified by the Serbian Parliament in February 2019. This treaty allows for the exchange of fugitives from justice, regardless of their citizenship. While the extradition to the United States of Briton John Miller, who is an American citizen, does not seem problematic, a possible attempt to extradite Chinese Cui Guanghai would certainly provoke a sharp reaction from Beijing. Serbian authorities and even President Aleksandar Vučić personally could be put under strong pressure. In such a case, Vucic would have to make a difficult “geopolitical” choice – whom to do a favor for – Washington or Beijing.
It is not clear why the two individuals resided in Serbia, but a country that is not a member of NATO and the EU is always preferable to violators of the law. Although the Serbian Prosecutor General’s Office denies reports that the two individuals are suspected of espionage, the case is sensitive enough. Someone in Belgrade may have felt relief when the two detainees disappeared. For Vučić, it is best to let the two fugitives continue to hide and leave the country.
