Latvian accused in drug case to be extradited from UK: 'I'd rather die than return to Latvian prison'
A UK court has rejected Dzintars Jezdauckis's objections and confirmed his extradition to Latvia on charges of drug trafficking. He opposed extradition, fearing for his safety in Latvian prisons.
The UK High Court upheld the decision to extradite Latvian national Dzintars Jezdauckis to Latvia. He was arrested on January 30, 2024, in Accrington under a European Arrest Warrant. Jezdauckis is accused of purchasing, storing, transporting, and reselling large quantities of drugs in 2017, which carries a penalty of 5 to 15 years in prison in Latvia.
Jezdauckis had previously served an eight-year sentence in Latvia for drug-related offenses. This time, he actively opposed extradition, claiming his life would be in danger if returned to a Latvian prison. In court, he stated: 'I'd rather die than return to Latvian prison.'
Based on his previous imprisonment at Daugavgrīva prison, he alleged that other inmates beat and stabbed him. His defense submitted a forensic report by Juliet Cohen, which documented multiple scars and diagnosed anxiety and depression.
In June 2024, the district court ordered extradition, ruling that it did not violate Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Jezdauckis appealed, and the High Court requested additional information from Latvia about prison conditions. Latvian authorities stated that he would initially be placed in Riga Central Prison but also mentioned new options such as single cells in the modern Liepāja prison and enhanced supervision.
In July, the High Court judge concluded that there was no real risk of degrading treatment after extradition and also dismissed the second appeal regarding family life rights. The ruling emphasized that the public interest in prosecuting those accused of serious crimes outweighed other considerations.
