Danish Police Arrest Chechen Separatist Official (Reuters)
Danish Police Arrest Chechen Separatist Official
23 minutes ago
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish police said on Wednesday they had arrested senior Chechen official Akhmed Zakayev after a request from the Russian authorities.
Zakayev was attending The World Chechen Congress in the Danish capital this week, an event which has caused a diplomatic row between Russia and Denmark, current president of the European Union (news - web sites).
Russian officials welcomed the detention of Zakayev, the most prominent spokesman of ousted Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov. Zakayev is deputy prime minister in Maskahdov's separatist administration removed by Russia's current military offensive launched in 1999 in the rebel republic, a mostly Muslim southern province.
Police said they received information from the Russian authorities on Tuesday which showed Zakayev was suspected of helping prepare the Moscow theater hostage crisis last week and of participation in other terrorist acts from 1996-99.
"The Copenhagen police found that this was sufficient foundation for the arrest," the police said in a statement.
Police said they expected an extradition request from Russia. A judge would decide whether Zakayev should remain in custody while an extradition case is pending, they said.
In Moscow, Gennady Seleznyov, speaker of Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament, was quoted by RIA news agency as telling parliament the arrest was "good news."
"It is vital that Zakayev be extradited as quickly as possible," he said.
Akhmad Kadyrov, head of Chechnya (news - web sites)'s local administration put in place by Russian authorities, praised the Danish action.
"Matters should not stop here. It is very important to arrest all the others who took place in this gathering," he told Interfax news agency.
But Ruslan Khasbulatov, a prominent Chechen who took part in this week's meeting, dismissed the arrest as absurd and predicted Zakayev would soon be freed.
"Zakayev is no terrorist. I don't believe he took part in any acts. This is all absurd. I have no doubt that they will release him," Khasbulatov, chairman of Russia's first post-Soviet parliament, told Ekho Moskvy radio.
Police said it was for the Danish Ministry of Justice and the police to decide whether Zakayev would be handed over the Russian authorities.
Danish police received a first set of information from Russia on October 25 with a request to arrest Zakayev. Copenhagen police asked for further details which they received on Tuesday.
Відповіді
2002.10.30 | Наливайко
Звідки інфа?(-)
2002.10.30 | Shooter
З надійних джерел :)
http://news.ng.ru/2002/10/30/1035964640.htmlhttp://www.sme.sk/clanok.asp?vyd=&cl=712614
2002.10.30 | Наливайко
Ще одне джерельце
http://www.gazeta.ru/firstplace.shtml2002.10.30 | Porox
Danish Police Arrest Chechen Separatist Official (Reuters)
Danish Police Arrest Chechen Separatist Official
23 minutes ago
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish police said on Wednesday they had arrested senior Chechen official Akhmed Zakayev after a request from the Russian authorities.
Zakayev was attending The World Chechen Congress in the Danish capital this week, an event which has caused a diplomatic row between Russia and Denmark, current president of the European Union (news - web sites).
Russian officials welcomed the detention of Zakayev, the most prominent spokesman of ousted Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov. Zakayev is deputy prime minister in Maskahdov's separatist administration removed by Russia's current military offensive launched in 1999 in the rebel republic, a mostly Muslim southern province.
Police said they received information from the Russian authorities on Tuesday which showed Zakayev was suspected of helping prepare the Moscow theater hostage crisis last week and of participation in other terrorist acts from 1996-99.
"The Copenhagen police found that this was sufficient foundation for the arrest," the police said in a statement.
Police said they expected an extradition request from Russia. A judge would decide whether Zakayev should remain in custody while an extradition case is pending, they said.
In Moscow, Gennady Seleznyov, speaker of Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament, was quoted by RIA news agency as telling parliament the arrest was "good news."
"It is vital that Zakayev be extradited as quickly as possible," he said.
Akhmad Kadyrov, head of Chechnya (news - web sites)'s local administration put in place by Russian authorities, praised the Danish action.
"Matters should not stop here. It is very important to arrest all the others who took place in this gathering," he told Interfax news agency.
But Ruslan Khasbulatov, a prominent Chechen who took part in this week's meeting, dismissed the arrest as absurd and predicted Zakayev would soon be freed.
"Zakayev is no terrorist. I don't believe he took part in any acts. This is all absurd. I have no doubt that they will release him," Khasbulatov, chairman of Russia's first post-Soviet parliament, told Ekho Moskvy radio.
Police said it was for the Danish Ministry of Justice and the police to decide whether Zakayev would be handed over the Russian authorities.
Danish police received a first set of information from Russia on October 25 with a request to arrest Zakayev. Copenhagen police asked for further details which they received on Tuesday.