Russia, Qatar negotiating extradition of Chechen separatist leader

Russia and Qatar are negotiating the extradition of Chechen separatist leader Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev. This was confirmed here today by the Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko.

Russia consistently advocates the implementation of the UN Security Council's resolutions aiming to fight international terrorism, Yakovenko stressed. We are actively negotiating this issue with Qatar, Yakovenko told reporters.

In his words, the UNSC committee for sanctions against Afghan Talibs, Al-Qaida and affiliated persons and organizations decided June 25 to include Yandarbiyev in the sanctions list. According to Yakovenko, this decision creates more favorable conditions for cooperation with Qatar authorities in extraditing this terrorist to Russian law-enforcement agencies.

Yakovenko voiced hope to the effect that Qatar's leadership will react adequately to this UNSC decision, and that things will, at long last, get rolling.