Chechens Wanted by Russia Remain in Georgia

(Tbilisi, May 16, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Three alleged Chechen militants detained in Georgia and wanted by Russia will remain in Georgia, according to the Supreme Court’s ruling announced today.

Alkhanov, Gelogaev and Elkhajiev were in the group of 13 armed men, detained by the Georgian border guards last August for illegal crossing of the border. Georgia has already extradited five of them to Moscow, fulfilling Russia’s demand for extradition.

After the decision of the Georgian General Prosecutor’s Office to hand over three Chechens to Russia, lawyers of the alleged militants appealed the court demanding to suspend extradition.

The Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi District Court of the capital city ruled on March 13 that two of the three alleged Chechens should be handed over to the Russian side, while extraditing the third one – Alkhanov was ruled illegal, as he had a refugee status in Georgia.

The ruling left unsatisfied both prosecution and the defense. Both sides appealed the decision at the Supreme Court.