State Duma deputy from Chechnya surprised with the Maskhadovs' application for political shelter

Nobody is going to prosecute the family of Aslan Maskhadov, "there were no claims to the members of his family," therefore, it is not clear, what there motives are for applying for political asylum in Finland, Ahmar Zavgaev, State Duma deputy from Chechnya and member of the commission for problems of North Caucasus, told live to the "Echo Moskvy" Radio. He stressed that the family of Aslan Maskhadov, leader of Chechen separatists, who was killed in Chechnya, "did not commit any crimes and should not respond for Maskhadov's actions."

Ahmed Zakaev, representative of Chechen separatists in London, reported, in his turn, that A. Maskhadov's family, which is for the second year on the list at the UN Commissariat for Refugees, is waiting, which of the countries will state its readiness to render them political shelter, the "Finmarket" reports. "100 percent of people on the list in that organization get the shelter," A. Zakaev noted. He is sure that the point with A. Maskhadov's family "will be considered in the nearest future."

Yesterday, on May 9, it became known that the family of president of Ichkeria A. Maskhadov, killed on March 8, 2005, by Russian special forces, now residing in Azerbaijan (widow, son, daughter and several grandchildren), applied to the authorities of Finland for political shelter. In the opinion of Usman Ferzauli, minister of foreign affairs of Ichkeria, Maskhadov's relatives decided to change residence for safety reasons. "Russian special agencies feel absolutely free in Azerbaijan, therefore, the members of Aslan Maskhadov's family had no confidence of being protected," Mr. Ferzauli who lives now in Denmark told "Commersant" yesterday. He reminded that during several recent years, Russian power agents kidnapped in Baku, under complete connivance of Azerbaijani authorities, several Chechen field commanders. "If they (Russian special agents, - Ed.) managed to get Zelimkhan Yandarbiev even in Qatar, it's much easier for them in Azerbaijan," the head of Ichkeria's foreign office has no doubts.

Representatives of Finnish authorities confirmed the fact of Aslan Maskhadov's family application for political shelter, but gave no comments on their attitude to the fact.

We remind you that Anzor, Maskhadov's son of 29, had earlier promised to continue his father's fight for independence of Chechnya from Russia. "I'll continue my father's business. I'm now in contact with his representatives, who stay abroad," Anzor Maskhadov told the Reuters. Anzor Maskhadov called his father's murder to be "a terrorist act," preplanned by Russian federal authorities.

"They wanted to take Maskhadov alive. To escape casualties, he asked his bodyguards to get out of the bunker, and met them tete-a-tete, Maskhadov's son said. "Of course, like any self-respecting Chechen, he was not going to surrender."

Anzor Maskhadov rejected the assertions that with his father's death the separatist movement in Chechnya will get to the stop. According to him, on the contrary, soon the Republic will face a burst out of violence.

Earlier, the Chief Department of the RF General Prosecutor's Office for the South Federal District (SFD) notified about impossibility to give out the body of Aslan Maskhadov, former president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, murdered on March 5, 2005, to relatives for burial. This letter was received on April 21 by the Anti-War Club in response of its appeal to give out Maskhadov's body to his relatives, sent to Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, signed by some 500 persons, Irina Vologina, coordinator of the action, told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

On March 7, on the eve of one year after Maskhadov was murdered by Russian power agencies, an appeal with request to give out his body to the relatives, and 478 signatures under this appeal to Mr. Putin were delivered by the Anti-War Committee to the reception room of the administration of the president of Russia. From the administration, the signatures went to the Federal Security Bureau (FSB) of the Russian Federation. When Irina Vologina, coordinator of the action, asked over the phone, why lists with signatures had been sent to the FSB, Oleg Borodin, servant of the president's administration, answered: "We don't have a funeral home here," Vologina told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot". Borodin, in his turn, asked her, whether those who delivered the signatures pitied the signatories. At the FSB, they confirmed receipt of documents, but reported later that they had delivered them to the prosecutor's office.

Collection of signatures under appeal to president of Russia V. Putin to give out the body of killed leader of separatists of Chechnya Aslan Maskhadov continues on the web-site of the anti-war movement VoineNet.Ru and during pickets against the war in Chechnya, held every Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Pushkin Square of the Russian capital. As of today, the appeal has been signed by some 550 persons, mainly by citizens of Moscow.

Aslan Maskhadov's relatives are also trying to have his body given out. The sought support in the matter among the leaders of the world community, and addressed to the Union of Committees of Soldiers' Mothers.

It was officially reported that the former president of the non-recognized Chechen Republic of Ichkeria was killed on March 8, 2005, in the village of Tolstoy-Yurt in the Groznenskiy District of Chechnya in a special operation performed by FSB officers. It was asserted that Maskhadov died in the storm of the bunker, where the separatists' leader took refuge with his retinue. According to media, not long before his death Aslan Maskhadov suggested the federal authorities to conclude cease-fire and even announced unilateral moratorium on military actions.