LATVIAN PARLIAMENT DELAYS EXTRADITION TREATY WITH AUSTRALIA

After a long debate on 26 October, Latvian lawmakers sent an extradition treaty with Australia back to the Foreign Affairs Committee. The move came as a surprise since three large groups in the parliament--the People's Party, Latvia's Way, and For Human Rights in a United Latvia, which together have 61 seats in the 100-seat chamber--had expressed support for the treaty's ratification. Latvia has recently come under international pressure to extradite suspected Nazi war criminal Konrads Kalejs, an Australian subject. Nationalist deputy Juris Dobelis commented during the parliamentary session, "Is it an honor for us to kowtow and listen to some underdeveloped foreigners?"