17:00, 18 September 2010

Warsaw court releases Zakaev because of his British refugee status

Ahmed Zakaev, emissary of Chechen separatists, who was not arrested by the Warsaw Regional Court on September 17 in spite of the request of the Polish Prosecutor's Office, may any moment leave Poland. The court justified its decision to release Zakaev by the fact that he had been granted political asylum in Great Britain - a member-country of the European Union.

Mr Zakaev, announced by Russia into international search for participation in terrorist activities, arrived in the Polish capital for taking part in the World Congress of Chechen People and on September 17 in the morning was detained by Warsaw police. The Polish prosecutor's office sent a request to the court to arrest Zakaev for 40 days. However, the court rejected the request.

No preventive measures, like surety or bail, will be applied to Ahmed Zakaev, the ITAR-TASS reports.

However, the decision of the court is not final; the prosecutor's office may appeal against it at the appeal instance, Radio Liberty reports.