Alleged Chechen Militants’ Trial Protracted as Judge Considers New Facts

(Tbilisi. April 18, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The Supreme Court postponed final ruling, scheduled for today on three alleged Chechen militants’ case, as judge continues consideration of the new facts in the case.

The lawyers of one of the alleged Chechen militants submitted to the Supreme Court on April 14 evidence proving that he is not the one wanted by Russia.

The Russian Prosecutor’s Office requested to extradite Elkhajiev last year. The documentation included the facts proving that Elkhajiev committed crimes in Chechnya and participated in fights against the Russian troops.

At the trial on April 14 the lawyers presented to the court the passport and identification card of the suspected militant proving that he is not Elkhajiev, thus claimed that the his extradition would be illegal.

Today the trial was attended by which claims that she is so-called Elkhajiev’s wife and saying that her husband’s real name is Mulkoev.   

The prosecutors say that the lawyers of the alleged Chechen militants want to delay trial.

Three persons from Chechnya were in the group of 13 armed men, detained by the Georgian border guards last August for illegal crossing of the border. Georgia has already extradited five of them to Moscow, fulfilling Russia’s demand for extradition.

The judge said today that the final ruling of the Supreme Court will be announced on April 25.

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