Russia presses for extradition of Chechen militants' emissary Akhmed Zakayev

Russian Deputy General Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky said that the British Home Office had not yet issued an order to extradite Akhmed Zakayev - Chechen separatists' emissary - to Russia.

The Russian Deputy General Prosecutor is in London now to conduct consultations on Akhmed Zakayev's extradition to Russia with the British party following Russia's request.

Mr. Fridinsky specified that the Russian Interior Ministry would issue an order before January 30 that would be a legal ground for Zakayev's extradition. Another session of the magistrate court in London scheduled for January 9 will be a "technical one" because it will only establish the date for the next session, the Russian Deputy General Prosecutor said.

Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service told RIA Novosti that according to the legal procedure practice adopted in Great Britain, the British Secretary of State for the Home Office is entitled to issue both an order to start extradition and reverse the decision taken by court to extradite this or that person on a request of another state. However, he does not have the right to reverse the court's decision not to extradite a person.