🇬🇷 Europe
Does Greece extradite to Russia?
An EU member; extradition to Russia is judicially reviewed, but a Red Notice complicates entry and residence renewals.
In short
RarelyRarely. Greece is an EU member and extradition to Russia undergoes ECHR-based judicial review. The practical risk lies not in extradition but in detention on entry: a notice is visible at the Schengen border.
Author
INTERPOL PROTECTION Research Desk
Reviewed by
Legal Review Board
Overview
Greece is both a mass tourist and a relocation destination, which makes the wanted-alert question particularly common: people fly in without always having checked their status.
Extradition risk here is moderate. The country belongs to the EU and the Council of Europe, cases are heard by a court applying the ECHR, and refusals on Russian requests are common practice.
The main practical scenario is different: a Red Notice is visible at Schengen border control, and detention on arrival is entirely realistic even where there is no prospect of surrender. What follows is a procedure that can take months — even though it will most likely end in refusal.
Legal system
Civil law; a court of appeal examines extradition and the justice minister takes the final decision.
Extradition practice
Extradition to Russia undergoes ECHR-based judicial review; refusals in politically tinged cases are common. Own nationals are not extradited.
INTERPOL cooperation
An INTERPOL and Schengen member: a notice is visible at border control and arrival detention is the main practical scenario.
Human rights & judicial review
EU and ECHR standards: Articles 3 and 6 work and ECtHR interim measures are available.
Not sure whether Greece could extradite you? Describe your situation — we will assess the extradition risk and outline the next steps. Confidential, via secure channels.
Assess extradition risk from GreeceCheck your situationTelegram channelAll enquiries are handled confidentially.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be detained at a Greek airport?
Yes. A Red Notice is visible at Schengen border control, and arrival detention is possible even where surrender has no prospect.
Does Greece extradite to Russia?
Rarely in practice. Cases are heard by a court applying the ECHR, and refusals on Russian requests are common.
Not sure whether you are wanted?
This page answers in general terms; your case it does not. Describe your situation — we will look at what Greece actually means for you, whether a Red Notice exists and what to do next. Confidential, no obligation.
What can be done
Check in advance, before travelling
A CCF request and a legal analysis let you find out preventively whether data exists and what the risks are — rather than at the border.
- Challenge it and seek deletion
We prepare a reasoned request to the CCF to delete a Red Notice: where data has been processed in breach of INTERPOL's rules — in a politically motivated case, for example — the Commission deletes it.
- Come back after a refusal
A refusal does not close the procedure for good: a request can be re-filed on new facts — a refused extradition, refugee status, evidence of political motive.
The outcome cannot be guaranteed in advance, but the situation is not a dead end either.
All enquiries are handled confidentially.
Related procedures
Sources
- European Arrest Warrant (Framework Decision 2002/584/JHA) — EUR-Lex, EU
- European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24) — Council of Europe
- List of international treaties of the Russian Federation on legal assistance, extradition and transfer of sentenced persons — Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Version history
- v1.0 — Initial publication.
- v1.1 — Country overview update and legal review.