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Wednesday, 03 December 2003
RUSSIA SLAMS BRITAIN OVER CHECHEN REBEL\'S ASYLUM
By empty (12/3/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Russia slammed Britain on Monday for granting asylum to leading Chechen rebel Akhmed Zakayev, arguing that the move raised doubt about the British government\'s commitment to the fight against terrorism. \"The granting of asylum status to Akhmed Zakayev not so much causes dismay or regret on our part as it raises doubt on our part as to the sincerity of statements and declarations made by the British leadership in relation to counter-terrorism,\" Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov told a news conference at NATO. Zakayev – who said he feared he would be killed if he returned to Russia – sought asylum within days of arriving in Britain a year ago and on Saturday the British government said his request had been granted.
Russia slammed Britain on Monday for granting asylum to leading Chechen rebel Akhmed Zakayev, arguing that the move raised doubt about the British government\'s commitment to the fight against terrorism. \"The granting of asylum status to Akhmed Zakayev not so much causes dismay or regret on our part as it raises doubt on our part as to the sincerity of statements and declarations made by the British leadership in relation to counter-terrorism,\" Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov told a news conference at NATO. Zakayev – who said he feared he would be killed if he returned to Russia – sought asylum within days of arriving in Britain a year ago and on Saturday the British government said his request had been granted. Moscow accuses Zakayev of murder and kidnapping incidents dating from the first of two wars in the breakaway Russian region from 1994-96. (ÊÐÆ)