Russia can provide Poland with reams of additional evidence of Chechen separatist leader Akhmed Zakayev's guilt, a deputy of the Russian lower house of parliament said Friday.
"There is a huge evidentiary base. If need be, Moscow will present even greater confirmation of this. I have not doubt that Zakayev will be tried in Russia to the full extent of the law," said Leonid Slutsky, first deputy head of the State Duma international affairs committee.
Zakayev, in Poland for a Chechen people's congress, was detained in Warsaw earlier on Friday and taken to a district prosecutor's office. Zakayev said he was on his way to the prosecutor's office to present materials relating to Russia's charges against him.
"We build our relations with Poland on the basis of the norms of international law. So I think Poland will grant Moscow's request on Zakayev's extradition to Russia," Slutsky told journalists.
Russia placed Zakayev on the international wanted list in 2001 on terrorism charges. He was granted political asylum by Britain in 2003. Russia has repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused.
Polish prosecutors decided on Friday to ask a Polish court to consider extending Zakayev's arrest, the separatist leader's lawyer told journalists.
In 2002, Zakayev was arrested in Denmark at Moscow's request, but then released as Denmark said Russia did not provide sufficient evidence to justify his extradition.
Zakayev, who led attacks on federal forces during the first Chechen War, denied in 2009 claims by Russia's security services that he was "attempting to revive the militant movement" in the region.
He also said he was ready for talks with Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov, who subsequently said he would welcome Zakayev's return to Chechnya.
MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti)
