Shevardnadze Says Georgia will Extradite Chechens to Russia

(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, December 2, 2002) – Georgian President Shevardnadze said at the news briefing today that Georgia is ready to fulfill commitment towards Russia and hand over 8 alleged Chechen militants.

“They [Chechens] will be extradited to Russia with taking into consideration all the legal aspects,” President said.

On November 26 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided that it would not object against extradition of the 8 Chechen fighters, arrested by the Georgian side earlier, to Russia.

The Court thus lifted its own moratorium on extradition, which was imposed on October 10 2002 according to the procedures of the court “in the interests of the parties and the proper conduct of the proceedings.”

Last week Georgian General Prosecutor Nugzar Gabrichidze said that Georgia is ready to hand over three Chechens to Russia.

Georgian border guards detained 13 armed men near the Russian border on August 3-5. In early October Georgia extradited to Russia 5 detainees out of 13. Georgia refused to extradite two alleged militants because they were Georgian citizens.

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