Georgia Refuses to Extradite Detained Chechens to Russia
(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 6, 2002) – Georgian authorities refused to hand over 13 Chechens detained in Georgia, allegedly infiltrated into Georgia from Russia, Vladimer Ustinov, Russian Chief Prosecutor told the reporters in Tbilisi after the talks with his Georgia counterpart today.
Ustinov arrived in Georgian capital today concerning the extradition of Chechens, allegedly participating in the recent armed clashes in Chechnya’s Itum-Kale district with the Russian troops.
Georgian General Prosecutor Nugzar Gabrichidze said today that the Russian side had not given Georgian side materials necessary for the extradition.
On August 5 Georgian President Shevardnadze said, “if there are criminals and terrorists among them [detained Chechens], the Russian side should give us their materials then we will hand the criminals over.”
Two groups of 13 Chechen fighters were detained in Georgia near the border with Chechnya on August 3-5. The Georgian State Security Ministry charges them for illegal crossing of the state border and carrying of automatic weapons and explosives.
On August 5 Russian President Vladimer Putin welcomed the capture of the Chechens as a first sign that Georgian authorities are concerned with the need to fight international terrorism.
“We shall make judgments about how serious the intentions of the Georgian government are to fight terrorism depending on how fast these criminals will be placed in Lefortovo prison [in Moscow],” Putin said.
