David Casa in Athens for Efimova’s extradition appeal

MEP David Casa is in Athens for the appeal hearing on the extradition of Pilatus Bank whistleblower Maria Efimova.

On Wednesday, Casa tweeted that he will be heading to Athens for the hearing which is scheduled for Friday. “Maria will find us with her every step of the way,” he said.

Last month, Casa had testified in front of the Greek court in the extradition case of Efimova. The court had decided that the Russian whistleblower should not be extradited to Malta because there is no guarantee she would be granted a fair trial and granted protection.

Tomorrow I will be heading back to Athens for #PilatusBank whistle-blower Maria Efimova's appeal hearing on her extradition to Malta. Maria will find us with her every step of the way. pic.twitter.com/IV89qwcKHP

— David Casa (@DavidCasaMEP) May 9, 2018

The ruling was described as an “indictment of Malta’s collapsing rule of law and its government’s drive to persecute rather than protect whistleblowers,” by the sons of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Efimova, who left Malta last year with her family, turned herself in to Greek police last month. Before the judgment, Efimova who is at the centre of a corruption scandal involving Malta’s prime minister Joseph Muscat, was being held in jail in Athens awaiting the Greek court’s decision on her extradition.

Following her arrest in Athens, MEPs urged Greek authorities not to send Efimova back to Malta.

A group of 36 MEPs signed a letter following Efimova’s arrest, calling for her not to be extradited to Malta. Civil society also called on the Greek authorities to provide Efimova with protection and to not return her to Malta.

Following the judgement which as subsequently appealed by a Greek prosecutor, Efimova was released were she is awaiting the appeal decision.