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Albanian drone-flying soccer fan seeks asylum in Croatia

Albanian drone-flying soccer fan seeks asylum in Croatia | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, Serbia's Stefan Mitrovic grabs a banner containing the Albanian flag attached to a drone flying above the pitch during the Euro 2016 Group I qualifying match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade, Serbia. The banner prompted fan violence with the match was suspended, and a man who claims to have flown the drone has been detained but it is revealed Saturday July 29, 2017, that Albania’s soccer federation is calling on Albanian authorities to stop his extradition to Serbia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, FILE)

ZAGREB, Croatia – An Albanian soccer fan detained on a Serbian warrant for allegedly flying a drone with a nationalist banner during a high-risk match has asked for political asylum in Croatia to avoid extradition.

Ismail Morinaj was arrested in Croatia in June on a Serbian warrant. A court in Dubrovnik agreed last week to extradite the 35-year-old Albanian to Belgrade.

Morinaj’s lawyer Darko Butigan said Monday his client has appealed the extradition ruling and also sought political asylum in Croatia. Butigan says Morinaj fears he would not get a fair trial in Serbia.

Violence interrupted an October 2014 European qualifying match between the Serbia and Albania after a drone with an Albanian banner appeared over the pitch.

Belgrade-Tirana tensions have been high over breakaway Kosovo, formerly Serbian province dominated by ethnic Albanians.

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Abbey Westbury

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