International cases · Ukraine
Wanted by Ukraine and arrested in Spain
Many Ukrainians live in Spain, some of them with temporary or international protection. Ukrainian extradition requests follow the European Convention on Extradition of 1957, and the National Court has refused a significant share of them for reasons that can be argued from the first day.
Saúl Rosell Manglano · Criminal defence lawyer · Madrid · ICAM 83.198
What the decisions show
Protection
When Spain has granted international protection, extradition to Ukraine has been refused.
Politics
A request with a political motive and a risk of persecution was refused.
Minor facts
Several requests failed because the facts were not a crime in Spain or did not reach the minimum penalty.
- Surrender granted16 70%
- With conditions1 4%
- Refused6 26%
Decisions on the merits of the National Court on requests from this country that I have reviewed (2025–2026, 23 decisions). One case can produce more than one decision. Conditions, such as returning to Spain to serve the sentence or guarantees on prison conditions, are usually obtained by the defence.
International protection
If Spain has granted the person subsidiary protection or asylum, the principle of non-refoulement prevents handing them over to the country they fled. The National Court has refused extradition to Ukraine on that ground. If the application is still pending, both procedures have to be coordinated.
Double criminality and minimum penalty
The Convention requires the facts to be punishable in both countries with at least one year of prison. Requests for hooliganism that in Spain would be a minor assault punished with a fine, for trading in raw amber, or for tiny amounts of drugs for personal use have been refused or reduced.
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Requests for fraud or organised crime usually meet these requirements, and the defence then focuses on the guarantees and on the facts actually attributed to the person.
How we will understand each other
I work in Spanish. With my clients from abroad I use translation tools to read and answer messages, and we manage well that way. At the police station and in court the law gives you a free interpreter, and I make sure that right is respected. If you write to me in English, I will answer you.
Common questions
I have temporary protection in Spain. Does it protect me from extradition?
Temporary protection is not the same as asylum or subsidiary protection. It has to be examined case by case, together with the risk of persecution and the conditions in Ukraine.
The case against me in Ukraine is political. Can I prove it?
Yes, with documents on your activity, the context of the case and reports on how similar cases are handled. The court has refused requests where that motive was shown.
Is it urgent?
Call me on 688 884 488. I answer the phone myself, at any hour.
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