A Scandal: U.S. disregard for Russia’s extradition requests unacceptable – Russia. Terrorists responsible for hundreds killed, many of them children are being covered and enjoy live, publish books in U.S. for many years.

July 22, 2013 · 0 Comments

Underground leader Ilyas Akhmadov

Yesterday, 17:54

Collage: Voice of Russia

The United States has been intentionally disregarding Russia’s request for the extradition of terrorist Ilyas Akhmadov and criminal Tamaz Nalbandov, which the Russian Interior Ministry sees as an unacceptable case of double standards, said Russian Interior Ministry spokesman Andrei Pilipchuk. Pilipchuk told reporters on Monday that Akhmadov and Nalbandov reside quietly in the United States although they were placed on the Interpol most wanted list a long time ago.

“The Interior Ministry has been seeking their extradition for more than ten years now. However, our American colleagues disregarded all official requests for reasons not clear to us, and they have yet to respond,” Pilipchuk said.

“Such a position arouses surprise. The United States has always portrayed itself as the main fighter against international terrorism, but it simultaneously provided cover for extremely dangerous criminals. This double standards policy is unacceptable, in our opinion. Terrorism can be defeated only if it is countered jointly,” Pilipchuk added.

Voice of Russia, Interfax

2004, Beslan, Russia

President Vladimir Putin called for international solidarity against terrorism yesterday and issued thinly veiled criticism of Britain for granting asylum to Chechen separatist figures.

Receiving credentials from new ambassadors to Russia in a Kremlin ceremony, Putin called for ‘solidarity in the struggle with international terrorism’ and said double standards were unacceptable.

‘Terrorism can only be fought together,’ he said.

After a series of terror attacks in Russia, Putin and other top officials have criticised Western politicians who have called for negotiations with Chechen rebels, and have lashed out at Britain and the United States for granting asylum to rebel envoys.

‘It is important not only to neutralise the terrorists themselves – their political lobbyists and ideological inspirers must end up in complete isolation,’ Putin said.

Russian authorities have unsuccessfully sought the extradition of two envoys of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov: Ilyas Akhmadov, who was granted asylum in the US, and Akhmed Zakayev, who has refugee status in Britain.

The Kremlin is angry that Akhmadov and Zakayev have been able to speak out through the media, criticizing its policies in Chechnya and the surrounding North Caucasus region, the site of the school raid last month that left more than 330 people dead, many of them children.