Montenegro, Türkiye grapple with Binali Camgoz extradition crisis

The extradition refusal of Binali Camgoz by Montenegro’s justice minister triggers chain reaction, affecting both national politics and international relations with Türkiye

Montenegro’s Justice Minister Andrej Milovic’s earlier refusal to extradite Binali Camgoz, a Turkish national, has ignited a major political controversy.

Camgoz faces severe allegations, including double murder, but surprisingly found an advocate in Milovic. The minister had cited Camgoz’s Kurdish ethnicity and health issues as pivotal reasons to avoid his extradition to Türkiye.

The Ministry of Justice, referencing Milovic, stated, “The decision was based on possible persecution of the Turkish citizen due to his ethnic belonging to the Kurdish community.” However, the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG) has challenged Milovic’s defense.

Their investigations reveal that Camgoz, despite his disability and instances of self-harm, is in stable health condition. More crucially, they found a lack of substantial evidence supporting the notion of political persecution in Türkiye.

A report from CIN-CG stated, “Despite his disability and self-harm, Camgoz is in stable health condition, and there is no convincing evidence of political persecution in Türkiye.”

Who is Binali Camgoz

Binali Camgoz, a Turkish national, is facing charges in Türkiye, including double murder and participation in a criminal organization. These allegations portray Camgoz not only as a suspect in serious criminal activities but also as a significant figure in organized crime.

The request for Camgoz’s extradition stems from incidents that allegedly occurred within Türkiye’s jurisdiction, involving acts that are deeply concerning to the Turkish legal system. The nature of these accusations suggests that they are not just criminal acts but potentially part of a larger pattern of organized crime that the Turkish authorities are keen to address.

Political and diplomatic repercussions

This extradition controversy has not only intensified diplomatic strains between Montenegro and Türkiye but also triggered significant internal political fallout. The Europe Now Movement (PES) responded by expelling Milovic.

This decision underscores the growing internal conflicts within PES, further highlighted by the recent exit of Jakov Milatovic, the PES deputy president and Montenegro’s president. His departure from the party marked a notable escalation in the internal discord.

Diplomatic strains between Montenegro and Türkiye

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic has announced plans to visit Ankara for discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This meeting aims to address the concerns raised by Türkiye and to reinforce the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Milatovic conveyed, “In response to Turkish concerns over the non-extradition of Camgoz, I will be meeting with President Erdogan to reaffirm our bilateral relations.”

Source: Newsroom