Polish interests to determine Zakayev's fate

Poland will only extradite Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev to Russia if this meets its national interests, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday.

Izvor: Ria novosti

Friday, 17.09.2010.

12:05

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Poland will only extradite Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev to Russia if this meets its national interests, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday. Zakayev, in Poland for a Chechen people's congress, was detained in Warsaw while on his way to the Polish prosecutor's office to present materials relating to Russia's allegations against him. Polish interests to determine Zakayev's fate Russia placed Zakayev on the international wanted list in 2001 on terrorist charges. He was granted political asylum by Britain in 2002. Russia has repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused. "We will make a decision on this case...according to our understanding of Poland's national interests and justice, but not to fulfill another's expectations," Tusk told a Polish radio station. He added that Poland had an "independent policy" on Chechnya and Zakayev. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office is currently preparing documents for an official extradition request, a spokesperson said. Zakayev, who took part in the first Chechen War and led attacks on federal forces, denied in 2009 claims by Russia's security services that he was "attempting to revive the militant movement" in the region. He also said he was ready for talks with Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov, who subsequently said he would welcome Zakayev's return to Chechnya. Zakayev, who has spoken out against Islamic radicalism in the North Caucasus, was "sentenced to death" by Chechnya's most wanted militant leader, Doku Umarov, in 2007. "He practices a democratic religion, calls for secularism and prefers laws established by people to the law of Allah," the statement said.

Polish interests to determine Zakayev's fate

Russia placed Zakayev on the international wanted list in 2001 on terrorist charges. He was granted political asylum by Britain in 2002. Russia has repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused.

"We will make a decision on this case...according to our understanding of Poland's national interests and justice, but not to fulfill another's expectations," Tusk told a Polish radio station.

He added that Poland had an "independent policy" on Chechnya and Zakayev.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office is currently preparing documents for an official extradition request, a spokesperson said.

Zakayev, who took part in the first Chechen War and led attacks on federal forces, denied in 2009 claims by Russia's security services that he was "attempting to revive the militant movement" in the region.

He also said he was ready for talks with Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov, who subsequently said he would welcome Zakayev's return to Chechnya.

Zakayev, who has spoken out against Islamic radicalism in the North Caucasus, was "sentenced to death" by Chechnya's most wanted militant leader, Doku Umarov, in 2007.

"He practices a democratic religion, calls for secularism and prefers laws established by people to the law of Allah," the statement said.

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