Poland rejects U.S. extradition request for director Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski, the Oscar-winning director behind Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, and The Pianist, will not be extradited to the U.S. from Poland, a Polish court ruled on Friday. Polanski pleaded guilty to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1977, when he was 43; he served 42 days in a state prison before fleeing to France, where he has been living.

Polanski, who is a dual French-Polish citizen, was visiting Poland to make a film when the U.S. made its extradition request (France doesn't extradite its own citizens). According to the Polish court, the United States' request for Polanski violated the European convention on human rights because Polanski has already served a prison sentence. The U.S. also tried and failed to get Polanski extradited from Switzerland in 2009.

In a press conference, Polanski said he is "very happy" with the court's decision. "I can breathe now with relief," he said.

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