Akhmed Zakayev Leaves Denmark, Moves to Great Britain

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 would take not less than one month. In his words, it usually takes long to consider such cases in Great Britain, and no one can project their outcome.

A Scotland Yard spokesman also said that Akhmed Zakayev, a top aide to Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, was detained at London’s Heathrow airport at 8:00 p.m. local time. As it was officially stated, Zakayev was arrested on the ground of the 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 took away his passport.

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

Zakayev said that next time “the desperate people, the relatives and friends of those Chechens that were killed by Russian military men might attack civil 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 fugitive Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov was arrested after an official inquiry from Russia. However, the Danish Justice Ministry considered that the evidence to prove Zakayev’s implication in terrorist activities was insufficient. For the time being, Zakayev can be detained and then extradited to Russia in any 182 countries that are incorporated in the Interpol.

Pyotr Bely
PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Dmitry Sudakov