MRA Refuses to Discuss Alleged Chechen Militants’ Appeal for Political Asylum

(Tbilisi, December 18, 2002. Civil Georgia) – Georgian Ministry for Refugees and Accommodation (MRA) refused today to discuss appeal of the three Chechen militant suspects urging for the political asylum in Georgia.

“We took decision not to discuss it [appeal], as it was collective appeal sent from the preliminary detention center,” Otar Keinishvili, Deputy Minister for Refugees and Accommodation told Civil Georgia.

Six Chechens were in the group of 13 armed men detained by the Georgian border guards near the Russian border in early August. Georgia has already handed over five of them to Russia.

Russia wants extraction of remaining alleged militants. Chechens claim that in case of hand over their life would be under danger. 

This is the first case when the foreign citizens appealed Georgia to grant political asylum.

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