"In 2002 1,421 criminal cases were initiated (in Chechnya), 255 of which were passed to court. In 2003 it was 1,978 cases and 264 were passed to court. Over the first six months of this year, 660 criminal cases were initiated and 206 passed to court", Mr Fridinski said answering the RIA Novosti question.
The dynamics is a sure indication of the growing number of cases reaching the court, he said.
He also noted that the cited statistics turn down the thesis of "impunity" contained in the report of German parliamentarian Rudolf Bindig which are allegedly an indication of the set-up in the Chechen republic.
In Fridinski's opinion, the German parliamentarian "mixes the notions" speaking of the number of applications filed by the procuratorial bodies and them compares them with the number of criminal cases initiated.
"The reporter takes the total of applications, among which are roof-leaking and pension-arrears complaints. Cases are never begun on such applications but only administrative measures taken. Speaking of cases passed to court, he only takes one category - abduction. According to him, it turns out that only 15 cases have reached the court, while it is over 200 in real fact", Fridinski said. He stressed that he disagrees with the clauses and conclusions drawn in the Bindig report and is ready to provide parliamentarians with real information concerning criminal investigations and taking them to court.
Fridinski noted the reducing number of cases begun on kidnappings in Chechnya.
"In 2003 440 criminal cases on abduction were initiated", he told RIA Novosti.
In 2002 it was 565 cases, he added.
As regards 2004, Fridinski said that the number of kidnappings is 61 less than a year before and, as of now, 130 criminal cases have been initiated in Chechnya.
Manypeople considered kidnapped have come back to Chechnya, Fridinski said. In his opinion, it is the merit of the law-enforcement agencies operating in Chechnya.
The prosecutor's office cannot yet say that Aslan Maskhadov, leader of Chechen separatists, has been captured, the Russian deputy prosecutor general said.
"I cannot say we've got him", Fridinski said in answer to a journalist noting that the Russian law-enforcers have many times said they were closing in on him.
On Tuesday the Russian Internet media rumoured that Maskhadov had been, or was going to be, detained.
"Proofs are enough to charge him", he added.
The term needed for investigation on the Maskhadov case "depends on many circumstances", Fridinski said.
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office goes on investigating the Akhmad Zakaev case, Fridinski said answering a question from RIA Novosti.
"The Prosecutor General's Office has not ended criminal investigation on Zakaev and the fact that Great Britain has decided to extradite him to Russia does not mean that investigation is over", he said.
The British decision is rather political than judicial, Fridinski noted.
In Russia Zakaev is accused of organising acts of terrorism, kidnappings, participating in tortures and executions.
