Russian Prosecutor General discusses with Tbilisi issue of extradition of Chechens arrested at Georgian-Russian border

A delegation of the RF Prosecutor General's Office, headed by Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov, has arrived in Tbilisi. The Russian prosecutor general will meet with his Georgian counterpart Nugzar Gabrichidze.

The Russian side demands that Georgia extradite Chechens, who were arrested at the Georgian-Russian border on their way back to Georgia from Russia. However Georgia will have grounds for the extradition, if only materials, proving the arrestees' relation to penal crimes and terrorist acts in Russia, are presented, Tbilisi officials announce.

At present the Chechens, who were detained by Georgian frontier guards on August 3 and 5, are in the invesigatory isolation ward of the Georgian State Security Ministry (MGB). They have been charged with violating the border, carrying concealed weapons, and exporting explosives. The penalty for these crimes can be 10 years of imprisonment.

The arrested Chechens plead not to give them over to Russia and to try them on the Georgian territory in accordance with the Georgian legislation, lawyers assert.