Extradition is the formal process of one government transferring an individual from their custody into the custody of another country after that person has been accused of a crime. The extradition process is agreed upon by all countries in order to combat transnational criminal activities and keep everyone safer. After all, no country wants to be a safe haven for criminally violent offenders.

Unfortunately, the extradition process is starting to take on a new form in the modern era, as can be seen in the case study of Julian Assange. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, was charged by the U.S government with espionage after he published classified U.S. documents online in 2010. Ever since Assange published those documents, he’s been on the bad side of the U.S. government and on the run. In an effort to evade extradition to the U.S., Assange attempted to seek political asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. He remained within the building for seven years before he was finally apprehended by London Police. Once he was in custody, the U.S. immediately sought out his extradition to the U.S. to face charges for leaking the documents back in 2010.

Only recently in 2024 has the saga finally come to a close when Assange reached a plea deal with the US. Assange acknowledged his involvement in espionage activities and pleaded guilty to one count of beaching the Espionage Act but he has been allowed to walk free after all his years of self-imposed isolation and imprisonment.

Some geopolitical analysts believe Assange’s case is an example of how the U.S. has started to exploit the extradition process for pursuing political dissidents. They reportedly do so under the pretext of national security. In Assange’s case, the government claims he put active duty military members directly in harm’s way by revealing details about the Iraq war. Despite the fact that no known harm was every caused by the release of the WikiLeaks files, Assange’s life has been destroyed by the fear of prosecution nonetheless.

Understanding the Extradition Process: When You Need a Lawyer

Political prosecution is shameful and, in many cases, illegal when it crosses international borders. In 2004, the United Nations agreed upon a Model Law on Extradition, which includes a specific section that outlines how extradition isn’t appropriate when the accused individual is accused of committing political offenses. When the offense is political in nature or the request is on account of the suspect’s political opinion, the extradition should be refused under the United Nations Model Treaty.

Have you been accused of committing a criminal offense in a different country than the one you’re currently in? If so, then it’s important to quickly get informed about your rights. If the prosecution is political in nature, then you might be protected under the law. You need a solid legal advocate to help you defend yourself and protect your rights.

Here at Bukh Global, our international lawyers are prepared to answer any of your extradition questions. Schedule a call with our team now to get in touch.