A Ukrainian judoka facing proceedings for his extradition to the Ukraine for allegedly defrauding businesses of €1 million pleaded in a Maltese court this morning that there were no grounds for his extradition.

Defence counsel Ukrainian lawyer Viacheslav Golovinov said that court documents showed that these were no evidence against his client Andriev Pashakov.

Furthermore no lawyer was present during investigations as laid down by Ukrainian law.

He also argued that human rights in the Ukraine were not respected and prison conditions were so bad that there were 30 people to a cell and they had to sleep by roster because there were not enough beds.

Health problems were rife, with an explosion of tubercolosis and AIDS. He also said that torture in the prisons was common.

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