The Simon Wiesenthal Center announced today that it has officially complained to the Austrian authorities regarding the country’s lack of progress in extraditing indicted Croatian Nazi war criminal Milivoj (Georg) Ašner (Aschner)-who is currently residing in Klagenfurt- to Croatia to stand trial for the crimes he committed as police chief of Požega during the years 1941-1942. In letters sent to Justice Minister Gastinger and Interior Minister Prokop, the Center’s chief Nazi-hunter Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff complained bitterly that although it is clear that Ašner lost his Austrian citizenship (which would have prevented his extradition), two months have passed with no practical action to expedite his removal to Croatia to stand trial.
According to Zuroff:
“Despite the fact that government officials have told the media that Asner forfeited his Austrian citizenship by requesting Croatian citizenship, Asner is still living in Klagenfurt and one can only wonder what has to happen before the Austrian government will finally turn over this Nazi war criminal to face trial in Croatia, the country in which he committed his heinous crimes.
Asner’s age is no secret and I believe that it is patently clear that every day that passes without practical progress, only brings him closer to eluding justice. I therefore urge you to take whatever steps can be possibly taken to expedite his extradition to stand trial for his crimes. To do otherwise, might appear to some an act of mercy but there should be no mercy for those like Asner who had no sympathy for their innocent victims.”
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