Court Sentenced Chechen Intruders Preliminary Detention

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, August 6, 2002) – District court of Vake-Saburtalo district of Tbilisi sentenced 7 Chechens, allegedly fighters, 3-month preliminary detention today.

Armed Chechens were arrested by the Georgian border guards near the border with Chechnya on August 3. Georgian State Security Ministry charged them for illegal crossing of the state border and carrying of automatic weapons and explosives.
Lawyers of arrested Chechens state that detainees are against of extradition to the Russian side, as the Russian authorities demand.  

Today Russian Chief Prosecutor Vladimer Ustinov failed to convince Georgian side in extradition of detained Chechens to the Russian side. Georgian Chief Prosecutor Nugzar Gabrichidze told the reporters after the meeting with his Russian counterpart in Tbilisi that the Russian side did not provide Georgia with the documentation necessary for extradition.