Russian GPO asks Poland to extradite Zakaev

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of the Russian Federation requests that Poland delivers Ahmed Zakaev, emissary of Chechen separatists, who is in international search and who was detained earlier in the territory of this state, and promises to treat him in Russia in line with international standards.

"Today, the GPO of the Russian Federation has sent a request to the competent Polish authorities to extradite Russian citizen Ahmed Zakaev to Russia for bringing him to criminal responsibility for committing grave and especially grave crimes in Russian territory," the "Interfax" quotes Marina Gridneva, official spokesperson of the GPO, as saying.

"Most of his incriminated crimes are categorized as grave and especially grave, mainly of general criminal nature, which can't be justified by any political motives. Such acts are prohibited both by the morals and by the law, including the international law, in particular, the International Convention Against Taking Hostages (1979)," the GPO's website runs.

The GPO guarantees in its request to ensure, in case of Zakaev's extradition, the custody conditions and treatment in line with international standards.