Moscow, Oct 30: A top aide to rebel Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov arrested in Copenhagen at Russia's request "is not a terrorist," a Chechen former speaker of the Russian Parliament, Ruslan Khasbulatov, said today. "Zakayev is not a terrorist. I don't think he participated in any actions. It's ridiculous. I have no doubt he will be released," he told Moscow echo radio. Khasbulatov was also in Denmark for a world Congress of the Chechen people, which ended yesterday, in which Zakayev was one of the main participants.
Aslambek aslakhanov, the elected representative from Chechnya in the state Duma lower house of parliament, also expressed doubts about the involvement of Zakayev in last week's deadly theatre hostage-taking in Moscow by Chechen rebels.


Danish television said Zakayev was suspected of involvement in the mass hostage-taking by Chechen militants, who were demanding that Russia pull its troops out of their breakaway republic.

However, the pro-Moscow head of the Chechen administration, Akhmad Kadyrov, welcomed the arrest. "You should arrest all those who took part in this gathering (in Copenhagen) as well as those who supported them," he said.

Bureau Report