Joseph Assad, a 47-year-old former CIA agent, was arrested two days ago in Abu Dhabi, after Montenegro had issued an international arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a failed pro-Russia coup attempt on 16 October 2016, learns CdM.
The Special State Prosecutor’s Office, SDT, wants the extradition of Assad, on charges of participating in a criminal enterprise led by two Russian military spy agency officers. After he was arrested, the United States tried to use the diplomatic relations and required Assad to be released from detention. This has been the US procedure whenever their citizens are arrested abroad. According to the US procedures, the American state secretary, upon the proposal of a judge, makes the final decision on the extradition.
Prosecutors in Montenegro earlier called for the arrest of a former CIA officer accusing him of involvement in an alleged Russian-backed coup attempt in 2016, conspiring to bring down the government.
However, ex-CIA operative avoided testimony recalling the 5th amendment to the Constitution of the USA, allowing the US citizens to decline to answer questions where the answers might incriminate them.
