Denmark not to extradite Zakayev to Russia?

Denmark has rejected the Russian demand to immediately extradite Akhmad Zakayev who is generally considered a spokesman for the leader of Chechen separatists, Aslan Maskhadov, Danish Minister of Justice Lene Espersen was quoted as saying in the late hours of Friday.

In her words, Russia did not submit enough evidence of Zakayev's involvement in terrorist activities. The Danish Justice Ministry proposed that Russia submit additional evidence against Zakayev till November 30th.

At the same time, Moscow believes that the documents submitted to the Danish side are "an irrefutable proof of the fact that Akhmed Zakayev is to be extradited to Russia," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov stated on Friday.

In his words, the Prosecutor-General's office through the Foreign Ministry has submitted to Copenhagen "all necessary materials" proving Zakayev's involvement in a number of terror acts in Russia.

The Copenhagen police detained Akhmed Zakayev on October 30th. The ground for the arrest was the information submitted by the Russian authorities, which proved that Zakayev was involved in a number of terror acts in Russia.

Russia and Denmark have no mutual extradition agreement. The Danish side previously announced that Zakayev might be extradited to Russia provided he would not be sentenced to death.