Russian Side Dissatisfied with Supreme Court Decision

(Tbilisi, May 17, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The Russian side is dissatisfied with the decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia, according to which the three Chechen prisoners will not be extradited to Russia.

Representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Iakovenko made an official statement today, saying that the decision was unjust and the Chechens should have been extradited, because they are suspected in committing grave crimes on Russian territory. Therefore the Russian side continues demanding their extradition.

On May 16 the Supreme Court decided to keep all three: Gelogaev, Elkhajiev and ALkhanov in Georgia. The decision is final and is not a subject to appealing. However the prisoners still have to undergo the court process, which will discuss their charges of illegal crossing of the Georgian border.

The three Chechens were arrested by the Georgian border guards last August near the Russian border together with other 10 persons. 5 of them were extradited to Russia last November without the court’s decision.

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