U.S. Extradition Request for Do Kwon Granted by Montenegro
Montenegro has completed the extradition of Terra founder Do Kwon to the United States, marking the end of a lengthy legal process that began in late 2023. The Montenegro High Court approved Kwon's extradition in November 2023, and after several appeals and suspensions by Montenegro's Supreme Court and Constitutional Court, the Justice Minister ordered his deportation to the US in December 2024.
Kwon was initially arrested in Montenegro in September 2023 on charges of using forged documents. He spent four months in a local prison before being released and transferred to an immigration center in March 2024. The extradition decision was made by Montenegro's Minister of Justice, Bojan Bozovic, on an undisclosed date.
The evaluation process considered several criteria, including the severity and location of the crime, the order of submission of official documents, and the possibility of further transfer of Kwon to another country. The Minister of Justice made a decision allowing the extradition of Kwon to the U.S. and rejecting the request from South Korea.
After being extradited to the US, Kwon initially pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in January 2025, covering conspiracy to defraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, and other major offenses related to the collapse of the Terra stablecoin. However, on August 12, 2025, Kwon changed his plea and pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud as part of a plea agreement in federal court. He also agreed to forfeit $19 million. His sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, with the US government recommending a sentence of up to 12 years.
In summary, Do Kwon was extradited from Montenegro to the US following multiple court actions in Montenegro in late 2024. After initially denying charges, he pleaded guilty in August 2025 under a plea deal, with sentencing forthcoming in December 2025. The final decision on the extradition was left to Minister Bozovic, and the court's decision to dismiss Kwon's latest appeal to overturn the extradition was made on December 25. Kwon is expected to remain in the immigration center until his extradition or further developments.
[1] New York Times
[2] Reuters
[3] CNN
[4] Bloomberg
[5] BBC News
- The extradition of Terra founder Do Kwon from Montenegro to the United States made headlines in various general news outlets, including the New York Times, Reuters, CNN, Bloomberg, and BBC News, highlighting the significance of policy-and-legislation and politics in international crime-and-justice matters.
- As the legal proceedings surrounding Do Kwon's extradition finalized, the Montenegro-centered politics of policy-and-legislation became a topic of interest within crime-and-justice circles, with further discussion on the implications for future general news stories.
