Related News
Wanted Chechen arrested in Poland
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SENIOR Chechen separatist wanted in Russia for alleged murder, kidnapping and terrorism was arrested yesterday in Poland where he was to attend a conference organized by the World Chechen Congress, police said.
Akhmed Zakayev, who lives in Britain, was apprehended "without any trouble" on an international warrant issued by Russia and was turned over to prosecutors, Poland's national police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said.
Russia accuses the 51-year-old of kidnapping and murder during a separatist war in Chechnya in the 1990s. Zakayev and his supporters have said the allegations are trumped-up, and that he represents the political faction of Chechnya's separatist movement and has no connection to the military wing spearheading the region's insurgency.
Prosecutors were examining the Russian warrant and other documents before questioning Zakayev and deciding whether to extradite or release him, prosecutors' spokeswoman Monika Lewandowska said.
Zakayev appeared relaxed, in white shirt and suit, as he arrived in a police car at the prosecutor's office.
"He is approaching it all with a large dose of calm," said Adam Borowski, a conference organizer who was with Zakayev at the time of his arrest. He told The Associated Press that Zakayev had learned he was wanted and was on his way to see prosecutors when he was picked up.
"He says he believes that Poland, as a democratic country, will not extradite him and that he will be released."
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on national radio that decisions concerning Zakayev will be taken "in accordance with our understanding of Poland's interests and with our sense of decency and justice, and we will not be trying to meet anybody's expectations."
Red notice
At Russia's request, international police agency Interpol had put out a "red notice" on Zakayev -- the equivalent of putting him on its most-wanted list. An Interpol red notice is not a warrant, but shares one country's warrant with other member countries.
Sokolowski said that detailed information from Russia with dates and places where Zakayev would be in Poland triggered the arrest. On previous visits to Poland, Zakayev moved freely.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said only that officials are closely following the situation and are in contact with the Polish authorities.
Marina Gridneva, a spokeswoman for the Russian Prosecutor General's office, said her office is preparing to send materials on Zakayev's case translated into Polish to back the extradition request.
Earlier this week Russian Ambassador to Poland Alexander Alekseev said Russia has proof that Zakayev had been involved in terrorism.
Akhmed Zakayev, who lives in Britain, was apprehended "without any trouble" on an international warrant issued by Russia and was turned over to prosecutors, Poland's national police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said.
Russia accuses the 51-year-old of kidnapping and murder during a separatist war in Chechnya in the 1990s. Zakayev and his supporters have said the allegations are trumped-up, and that he represents the political faction of Chechnya's separatist movement and has no connection to the military wing spearheading the region's insurgency.
Prosecutors were examining the Russian warrant and other documents before questioning Zakayev and deciding whether to extradite or release him, prosecutors' spokeswoman Monika Lewandowska said.
Zakayev appeared relaxed, in white shirt and suit, as he arrived in a police car at the prosecutor's office.
"He is approaching it all with a large dose of calm," said Adam Borowski, a conference organizer who was with Zakayev at the time of his arrest. He told The Associated Press that Zakayev had learned he was wanted and was on his way to see prosecutors when he was picked up.
"He says he believes that Poland, as a democratic country, will not extradite him and that he will be released."
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on national radio that decisions concerning Zakayev will be taken "in accordance with our understanding of Poland's interests and with our sense of decency and justice, and we will not be trying to meet anybody's expectations."
Red notice
At Russia's request, international police agency Interpol had put out a "red notice" on Zakayev -- the equivalent of putting him on its most-wanted list. An Interpol red notice is not a warrant, but shares one country's warrant with other member countries.
Sokolowski said that detailed information from Russia with dates and places where Zakayev would be in Poland triggered the arrest. On previous visits to Poland, Zakayev moved freely.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said only that officials are closely following the situation and are in contact with the Polish authorities.
Marina Gridneva, a spokeswoman for the Russian Prosecutor General's office, said her office is preparing to send materials on Zakayev's case translated into Polish to back the extradition request.
Earlier this week Russian Ambassador to Poland Alexander Alekseev said Russia has proof that Zakayev had been involved in terrorism.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
