An Albanian Antifa militant involved in violent street attacks in Budapest may soon be extradited to Hungary, which could lead to Italian MEP Ilaria Salis losing her parliamentary immunity and facing extradition as well.
Rexhino “Gino” Abazaj, 32, an Albanian who has lived in Italy since childhood, was arrested by French police last week under an international warrant from Hungary. Abazaj took part in a brutal Antifa assault in Budapest last February, where militants targeted innocent bystanders they believed were linked to a Neo-Nazi march, using batons and hammers to leave several victims with life-threatening injuries. Hungary now seeks his extradition for trial.
Abazaj maintains his innocence and will remain in a Paris prison until the extradition decision, which could take months. His accomplice, Ilaria Salis, 40, was previously detained by Hungarian police and charged with attempted assault and links to an extreme left-wing group. Media coverage in Italy largely focused on her alleged mistreatment in prison, ignoring her role in the violence.
In May, Salis was moved from prison to house arrest in Budapest and soon after was nominated for the European Parliament by the Italian Greens and Left Alliance, gaining legal immunity. Since her election, she has continued to criticize Hungary’s government, even calling it a “modern tyranny” during an October European Parliament debate. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán dismissed her comments as “absurd,” reminding lawmakers of her violent past.
After Abazaj’s arrest, Salis tweeted that Hungary’s extradition request was an attempt by Orbán to attack anti-fascism and the rule of law. However, if France agrees to extradite Abazaj to Hungary, it could force the European Parliament to reconsider Salis’ immunity, as Hungary has requested it be revoked due to her similar charges.
According to Il Giornale, Abazaj and Salis face the same charges, and their paths have crossed several times in the past. Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács responded to Salis’ tweet, stating that anyone who commits aggravated assault should be prosecuted: “What your ‘story clearly shows,’ Ilaria Salis, is that if you go to any country and you commit aggravated assault like a common thug, you will be prosecuted accordingly.”
