Published Date: 19 September 2010
By David Rising and Monika Scislowska
in Warsaw
ONE OF Russia's most wanted men – a Chechen activist who counts actress Vanessa Redgrave among his supporters – has been freed after being arrested in Poland on Russian charges related to the Chechen war.
Akhmed Zakayev now faces demands he be extradited to Russia, where he is wanted over allegations of murder, kidnapping and terrorism during Chechnya's separatist war in the 1990s.
Zakayev, who was granted asylum in Britain years ago, maintains the accusations are trumped up and defiantly told Radio Free Europe the day before his arrest that he was in Poland "absolutely legally" and would not hide from authorities.
The Kremlin claims that the charismatic Chechen is a dangerous guerrilla mastermind responsible for the deaths of many Russians.
The 51-year-old was taken into custody on Friday "without any trouble" as he left a home in Warsaw and was later turned over to prosecutors, national police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said.
On Friday evening a Warsaw regional court released Zakayev, who was in Warsaw to attend an international conference on Chechnya. Prosecutors had sought to extend his detention.
Conference organiser Adam Borowski said the court decision meant Zakayev would stay in Poland pending a ruling on whether or not he can be extradited to Russia.
However, court spokesman Wojciech Malek said the ruling means Zakayev is free to leave Poland. Prosecutors can appeal within seven days.
It was unclear when any decision on a possible extradition might be made. Prosecutors' spokeswoman Monika Lewandowska said prosecutors have not yet received a formal request from Russia. Zakayev walked out of the court and said he would attend the conference's final day yesterday, but didn't talk about his plans beyond that. He said he had been confident that: "Poland would not abandon the principle of democracy and of the rule of law."
Supporters said Zakayev had been on his way to turn himself in for questioning when he was picked up by the police.
Zakayev, who looks more like a diplomat or professor than a guerrilla fighter, appeared relaxed in a crisp white shirt and suit as he arrived in a police car at the prosecutor's office.