Georgia Rejects to Hand Over Two Alleged Militants to Russia

(Tbilisi, November 14, Civil Georgia) – Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office officially rejected Russia?s request to hand over two persons, allegedly militants detained in Georgia for illegal crossing the Russian-Georgian border.

Two persons out of 8 detained by the Georgian border guards are Georgian citizens, thus they will be charged in accordance to the Georgian laws, General Prosecutor?s Office reported today.

The process of determination of the identities of the detainees proved that two alleged militants are Kists (ethnic Chechens living in Georgia?s Pankisi gorge). 

13 armed persons were detained near the Russian border in early August. Five of them have been already been extradited to Russia. Moscow demands hand over of remaining 8 persons.

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) studies the case. The ECHR recommended the Georgian authorities to delay extradition of remaining detainees before the court?s decision regarding the case.

Georgian State Security Ministry charged all the 13 persons for illegal crossing the border and carrying weapons and explosives.

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