Hearing of case on Akhmed Zakayev's extradition to Russia put off till January 31

The London Court decided on the British Home Office's request on Thursday to put off the hearing of the case on Chechen militants' emissary Akhmed Zakayev's extradition to Russia till January 31.

The British Home Office had requested to do it to have more time for detailed examination of papers provided by the Russian party. The hearing lasted several minutes. Akhmed Zakayev was not present in the court hall. He will appear in the court on January 31.

Russian Deputy General Prosecutor Sergei Fridinsky told journalists in London the day before that the Russian General Prosecutor's Office had provided the British party with all documents necessary for Akhmed Zakayev's extradition. Examination protocols of both witnesses and victims are attached to them. The documents also say that the Russian party is under an obligation not to sentence Akhmed Zakaev to death penalty, Mr. Fridinsky stressed.

Moreover, according to Sergei Fridinsky, the Russian party conducted consultations and negotiations with Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service and with Zakayev's lawyer on the eve of another court session. It was specially done to spare the British party "technical difficulties in interpreting the documents necessary for Zakayev's extradition to Russia," the Russian Deputy General Prosecutor said.

According to Sergei Fridinsky, Akhmed Zakayev's extradition to Russia will take a lot of time due to British court practice.