Point 1
This is the “worst case in Canadian history” of another country refusing to transfer a Canadian to a prison in Canada.

Point 2
The Bulgarian Prosecutor General, Boris Velchev, who refuses to transfer Kapoustin to Canada, admits that it is a “form of torture” to keep him in Bulgaria.

Point 3
By law, Michael Kapoustin should have been transferred to Canada five years ago.

Point 4
Canada has triggered mediation with the Council of Europe on Bulgaria’s decision not to honor its request to transfer Kapoustin in accordance with the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This is only the 2nd time in the 22-year history of the Convention and the first time Canada has employed this measure.

Point 5
The accession of Bulgaria into the EU creates a very troubling precedent in the face of the broad systemic failures of the judicial and correctional systems within Bulgaria as illustrated by the Kapoustin case.

Point 6
The RCMP provoked Bulgarian authorities into bringing unfounded charges against Michael Kapoustin, without a shred of evidence and without the legal right to do so.

Point 7
The German Government improperly extradited Kapoustin, a Canadian citizen, to Bulgaria, and shoulders the responsibility to right this wrong.

Point 8
Michael Kapoustin was tortured by Bulgarian authorities for the purposes of obtaining a confession from him and extorting money from his family.

Point 9
Michael Kapoustin has been subjected to a black media campaign by the government of Bulgaria and its tame media.

Point 10
Throughout this tragic ordeal, Kapoustin’s family has suffered enormously for 12 years – including a son who has only seen his father once in eleven years.