According to a source in the bureau, "the request was sent shortly after the media reported about Zakayev's arrival." "We asked the German side whether Zakayev was in Germany indeed. If yes, then it should meet its international obligations," the source said.
At issue are the agreements between the Russian Federation and Germany on mutual extradition of persons on the international wanted list.
According to the prosecutor general's office, Zakayev was placed on the international wanted list.
Akhmed Zakayev arrived in Berlin on the invitation of the foreign policy speaker of the Social Democratic Party of Germany's faction in Bundestag, for political negotiations with representatives of all Bundestag factions, runs the press statement of the Vice Speaker of the SDPG faction for foreign policy in Bundestag, Markus Meckel.
On Thursday Zakayev will participate in public discussions called Chechnya - Peace Process Options, the statement reads.
Besides, according to the statement, Zakayev will be in Berlin till January 30.
Last November, London Magistrates' Court refused to extradite the Chechen separatist emissary to the Russian Federation. The plaintiff, the Russian government, has leveled 13 charges against Zakayev. Among criminal violations are murder, terrorism and hostage taking.
Akhmed Zakayev was detained on December 5, 2002 at London's Heathrow airport where he arrived from Denmark. His detention was based on the international warrant. However, the police confiscated his passport and released the Chechen separatist emissary on the ?50,000 bail paid by British actress Vanessa Redgrave.
In the past few months, Zakayev lived with his family in Chelsea, a prestigious part of London. Entrepreneur Boris Berezovsky paid for his lawyers and covered the travel expenses for the witnesses.
Later on, the Home Office granted Zakayev a political asylum.
In an interview with The Times, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that this decision came as a heavy blow to the numerous victims of terror in Chechnya and Russian cities.
