IN RELATION TO GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES' DELAYING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION TO EXTRADITE TO RUSSIA THE CHECHEN GUNMEN DETAINED IN GEORGIA

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

Georgian media are reporting that proceedings in the case of extradition to Russia of the three Chechen gunmen detained in Georgia back in August last year and who have committed grave crimes on our territory have again been delayed, this time for an indefinite period of time. Although the decision on their extradition was passed by a Tbilisi district court back in November last year, Georgian authorities are obviously seeking to delay its implementation, resorting to all manner of legal tricks and changing the case from one court to another.

That position of the Georgian side is not helpful towards the normalization of Russian-Georgian relations. It arouses bewilderment in Moscow to say the least, as running counter to the agreements on stepping up cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and, in particular, with regard to extradition to our law enforcement agencies of the Chechen gunmen mentioned above.

February 26, 2003