Poland's prosecutor's office has issued an order to detain the prime minister of the unrecognized republic of Ichkeria, Akhmed Zakayev, ahead of a visit to Poland for a Chechen congress, a police spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Zakayev is due in Warsaw for a World Congress of Chechen people on September 16-18.
The former Chechen deputy premier will be arrested if he steps onto Polish territory, the spokesperson said.
In 2002, British authorities granted political asylum to Zakayev and he currently lives in London.
Russia, which issued an international arrest warrant for Zakayev in 2001, has accused him of terrorist activities and repeatedly asked Britain to extradite him, but the request has invariably been refused.
Zakayev, who has frequently spoken out against Islamic radicalism in the North Caucasus, 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.
WARSAW, September 15 (RIA Novosti)
