(Tbilisi, November 30, 2002, Civil Georgia) Chechen mother refugees in Georgia gathered in front of the Penitential Department of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia today to express their protest against possible extradition of Chechen prisoners to Russia.
On November 28 Prosecutor General of Georgia Nugzar Gabrichidze announced his decision to extradite 3 of eight Chechen prisoners, who were arrested by the Georgian border guards in August. However, the lawyers already appealed the decision, thus extradition cannot take place until a court recognizes legitimacy of the decision.
Head of the department Paata Mkheidze met with the protesters and asked them to dismiss the meeting since it is hindering work of the department. Rustavi 2 TV reports that the protest action ended shortly after.
“There is no way that extradition would happen either to Russia or any other state, until all procedures connected with the appeal are over” – Paata Mkheidze told the protesters.
On November 26, the European Court of Human Rights lifted its moratorium on extradition of these Chechens to Russia.
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