World Congress of Chechen People Opens in Warsaw September 16-18, Zakayev May Attend

Zakayev's Assistant Denies Chechen Leader Is in Poland

WARSAW, September 16, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Akhmed Zakayev, the Chechen separatist and prime minister of the self-declared republic of Ichkeria, is not in Poland, an assistant told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

Polish TVN24 TV channel reported earlier on Thursday that Zakayev, wanted by Russia on terrorism charges, had already arrived in Poland for the World Congress of Chechen people.

"I can confirm that currently Akhmed Zakayev is not in Poland," Aslambek Kekharsayev said.

He said Zakayev had visited Poland repeatedly this year, including a month ago as part of preparations for the three-day Chechen congress, which opened in Warsaw on Thursday.

"I hope he will come," Kekharsayev said when asked if Zakayev would attend the gathering.

On Wednesday, Polish police said the Prosecutor General's Office had issued an arrest warrant for Zakayev.

Later in the day a spokeswoman for the Chechen congress said Poland had not issued an arrest warrant since there was no case against Zakayev in Poland. Anna Kyun also said he had been in Poland three weeks ago.

But police would still detain him if he arrived in Warsaw, she added.

In 2003, British authorities granted political asylum to Zakayev and he currently lives in London.

Russia, which issued an arrest warrant for Zakayev in 2001, has accused him of terrorist activities and repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused.

Zakayev Arrives in Poland

MOSCOW, September 16, 2010 (RIA Novosti)

Exiled Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev, wanted by Russia on terrorism charges, has arrived in Poland for a Chechen congress, the Polish TVN24 TV channel said on Thursday.

The World Congress of Chechen People, which Zakayev is invited to, is due to take place in Warsaw on September 16-18.

On Wednesday, Polish police said the Prosecutor General's Office had issued an arrest warrant for Zakayev.

Later that day the Chechen congress' spokeswoman, Anna Kyun, said Poland had not issued an arrest warrant since there was no case against Zakayev in Poland. She also said he had been in Poland three weeks ago.

But police would still detain him if he arrived in Warsaw, Kyun said.

Earlier Zakayev in an interview with the Ekho Moskvy radio station said that he was unaware of Poland's plans to detain him.

In 2002, British authorities granted political asylum to Zakayev and he currently lives in London.

Russia, which issued an arrest warrant for Zakayev in 2001, has accused him of terrorist activities and repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused.

Zakayev denied in 2009 claims by Russia's security services that he was "attempting to revive the militant movement" in the region.

He also said he was ready for talks with Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov, who subsequently said he would welcome Zakayev's return to Chechnya.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.