Will the Terrorist Escape Justice?

According to Zakayev, Chechen terrorists might soon perform another act of terrorism

The trial concerning Akhmed Zakayev’s extradition to Russia is to start in London on December 11th. An official spokesman for Scotland Yard stated that the trial will take not less than one month. In his words, it usually takes a long time to consider such cases in Great Britain, and no one can project the outcome.

A Scotland Yard spokesman also said that Akhmed Zakayev, a top aide to Chechen terrorist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was detained at London’s Heathrow airport at 8:00 p.m., local time. As it was officially stated that Zakayev was arrested due to an international extradition warrant "alleging several offenses within the jurisdiction of the government of the Russian Federation."

However, Akhmed Zakayev was released on bail after he was interrogated. The Chechen emissary also pledged not to leave the territory of Great Britain in the nearest future. The English police seized his passport.

The case concerning Zakayev’s extradition will be considered by a special district court in London. Before flying to London, Zakayev said that the Chechens might perform another act of terrorism, which will be much more scarier that the one that recently happened in the Moscow music theater. In his interview to the Guardian, Zakayev virtually supported the Chechen gunmen, having stated that “Moscow refuses political negotiations” and that “Russian troops continue to exterminate the Chechens.”

Zakayev said that next time, “the desperate people, the relatives and friends of those Chechens killed by the Russian might attack civilian objects, including nuclear power plants.” According to Zakayev, Chechen guerrillas do not insist either on separation or independence for Chechnya. “They are ready to make serious concessions in return for peace,” claimed Akhmed Zakayev.

Vanessa Redgrave, a British actress, acted as Zakayev’s guarantee for the British government. The terrorist arrived in Britain on her personal invitation. Redgrave stated that she was going to take Zakayev’s costs upon herself.

Zakayev left Denmark yesterday. He was arrested in Copenhagen on October 30th during the so-called Chechen Congress. The Danish government refused to ban the congress, despite the hostage-taking crisis in Moscow. Akhmed Zakayev, the senior aid to terrorist Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, was arrested after an official inquiry from Russia. However, the Danish Justice Ministry considered the evidence proving Zakayev’s implication in terrorist activities insufficient. For the time being, Zakayev can be detained and then extradited to Russia in any of 182 countries that are incorporated into Interpol.

Pyotr Bely PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov