Polish prosecutors have sent a request to extradite Roman Polanski to a regional court –  saying the movie director’s Polish citizenship is not a legal obstacle to his extradition to the U.S.

The  procedural step doesn’t  indicate that Polanski will necessarily be extradited – in connection with a 1977 sex crime.

If the court  recommends extradition, the case would be handed over to the justice minister.

Many Polish leaders are strongly opposed to extraditing the 81-year-old Oscar winner to the United States.

Based on the U.S. request, prosecutors questioned Polanski last week in Krakow.

He’s in Poland working on a new film.