20 December 2006, 23:08
General Public Prosecutor's Office renews old criminal cases, striving to have Ahmed Zakaev extradited
The Chief Department of the General Public Prosecutor's Office for the South Federal District has resumed the earlier suspended investigation on the criminal case in relation to Ahmed Zakaev, emissary of Chechen separatists, initiated back in 2001. The formulation of reopening is "in view of newly-detected circumstances." It is obvious that activation of the Prosecutor's Office is a consequence of investigation into the circumstances of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, under which Russian investigators are going in the near future to interrogate Zakaev in London. Apparently, he will be asked most diversified questions, the GZT.ru newspaper writes.
The charges of organization and command of illegal armed formations, organization of armed revolt and attempt on members of law enforcement bodies had been presented to Ahmed Zakaev in absentia - the emissary of Chechen militants had managed to escape abroad. According to statement of the Public Prosecutor's Office dated November 1, 2001, he was incriminated the crimes committed in 1996-1999. "Zakaev, A. I., took part in organization of steady armed groups (gangs), then he headed one of them named "Southwest Front," which was in different periods from 300 to 1500 armed fighters strong," this official document runs.
