Turkey Starts To See Russian Position On International Terrorism In New Light

In an answer to a RIA Novosti question at a Wednesday briefing, presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky said that Turkey was coming to see the situation in the Chechen republic in a different light. He added that this attitude had become particularly clear after the September 11th terrorist attacks in the USA. According to him, Turkey recently asked Russia to produce an extradition dossier for Russian citizen and Chechen separatist leader Movladi Udugov. Sergei Yastrzhembsky reminded those present that on March 20th, 2000 criminal proceedings had been launched against Udugov under article 279 of the Russian Criminal Code. He was also put on the international wanted list. The very fact that the Turkish side had made the request illustrates that the country is looking at Russia's fight against international terrorism in a different way. Udugov was reportedly last seen in a small Persian Gulf state. Yastrzhembsky pointed to the need to take every possible step to apprehend him. Udugov is also suspected of orchestrating an attack by Chechen militants on the Novolak region of neighbouring Daghestan in August 1999. The presidential aide noted that the number of states where Chechen separatists could feel at ease had considerably decreased.