Judge: Croatian woman can be extradited on war crime charges

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that a Croatian woman can be extradited to Bosnia to face war crimes charges after living for years in Kentucky.

Azra Basic (BAH’-sich) has been battling her extradition in federal court since authorities arrested her in 2011. She is wanted in Bosnia on charges of committing war crimes against ethnic Serb civilians in 1992.

Her attorney filed court papers in 2012 saying Basic was being held in violation of her rights as a U.S. citizen and asking for her release after a magistrate judge ruled international treaties allowed her to be returned to Europe.

U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell denied that petition on Thursday, ruling the treaty cited for extradition is valid and applies to the case.

Basic’s attorney, Patrick Nash, says he plans to appeal.

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