The first hearing concerning the request of the Croatian authorities for the extradition of Petrac, convicted in Croatia for kidnapping, will be held at the district court in Corfu on Tuesday. Petrac was arrested in Greece on August 31 for holding a fake passport.
Attorney Ljubo Pavasovic-Viskovic declined to say on what grounds Petrac would seek political asylum. He said he would attend the hearing but only as an advisor because Croatian lawyers are not authorised to represent their clients abroad.
Pavasovic-Viskovic is also expected to be present when Petrac will be questioned by investigators from Croatia and the Hague war crimes tribunal. He said that although the Croatian investigators left for Greece eight days ago, no one had spoken to Petrac yet.
Petrac's attorneys say they have not been informed what the investigators wish to speak to Petrac about, but assume the interview will focus on Petrac's alleged involvement in financing the escape of Croatian war crimes fugitive Ante Gotovina.
The investigators from the Hague visited Petrac at the extradition prison in Ioanna earlier this month, but he requested that his attorneys from Croatia be present at the interview.