Japanese Volunteer in Chechnya Imprisoned in Georgia

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 22, 2002) – Citizen of Japan Minami Hiroshi and Chechen Said Ali-Itaev were sentenced to three-month preliminary imprisonment. They are charged with illegal crossing of the border and illegal possession of arms.

Minami Khiroshi, born in 1978, and former officer of the Japanese armed forces reportedly fought in Chechnya.

Minami Khiroshi and Said Ali-Itaev entered Georgia from the Russian territory. They were arrested in Shatili, Mutso Valley, bordering Chechnya, on August 14.

According to Nika Laliashvili, press officer of State Security Ministry, Khiroshi had been to Georgia three times and all the visits were legal.

Liliashvli says Japanese envoy has met Minami Khiroshi twice.

Neither Japanese nor Russian side has requested extradition of the arrested yet.