Tbilisi Wants Evidences Proving Detainees’ Involvement in Terroristm
Russian General Prosecutor Vladimer Ustinov failed to convince Georgian authorities in handing over 13 Chechens, allegedly fighting against Russian Federal troops in Chechnya. Russian chief prosecutor paid one-day visit in Tbilisi on August 6 to discuss the issue with his Georgian counterpart. Georgian authorities want evidences proving that the arrested Chechens committed crimes in Russian Federation.
“The Russian side has not provided Georgia with materials necessary for the extradition,” Georgian General Prosecutor Nugzar Gabrichidze said after the meeting with his Russian counterpart.
Earlier on August 5 Georgian President 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.”
“To provide Georgian side with the evidences and the necessary material we need time. Right now we have no possibility to do so. Even the information concerning the names of detainees we received from Internet and not from our counterparts,” Vladimer Ustinov, Russian Chief Prosecutor said in Tbilisi on August 6. He said that the aim of the visit was to submit the request of Russian General Prosecutor’s Office concerning the extradition of Chechens to the Georgian law enforcement agencies.
Georgian State Security Ministry has charged the 13 Chechen intruders for illegal crossing of the state border and trafficking of automatic weapons and explosives. 7 Chechens were sentenced 3-month preliminary detention by one of the Tbilisi district courts on August 6. Detainees have Georgian lawyers. They say that Chechens are categorically against of their extradition to Russia.
Two groups of 13 Chechen fighters were detained in Georgia near the border with Chechnya on August 3-5. 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. But it seems that very fast it will not happen.
Georgian has an experience of extradition terrorist and criminal suspects to the Russian side. In July Georgian law enforcers arrested and handed over suspect in terrorist attacks in Russia. Last October Georgia extradited 13 persons, allegedly fighters, interloped in Georgia form Russia. Georgian law enforcers say that in those cases Russia provided Georgia with the evidences proving that suspected persons where linked to the terrorist activity or participated in the armed clashes against the Federal Forces in Chechnya.
It is evident that Georgia’s refusal to extradite Chechens will further tense relations between the two countries, which has been aggravating in the recent weeks, as Russia accuses Georgia of harboring Chechen fighters and international terrorist groups in troubled Pankisi gorge. Russia calls for joint anti-terrorist operation to restore order in the gorge. Georgia rejects the proposal.
By Giorgi Sepashvili, Civil Georgia
