CHECHEN REBELS DETAINED IN BAKU HANDED OVER TO RUSSIA








MOSCOW, MARCH 11, 2001 /FROM A RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT/ -- Chechen terrorists Ruslan Akhmadov and Badrudi Murtazayev detained in Baku had forged papers on them, reported the Russian Interior Ministry's Organised Crime Squad.


	


	According to the source, the police operation was conducted within the framework of the complex operative and search efforts to ferret out Chechen terrorists and their leaders, including those who went into hiding in the states adjacent to Russia. 


	


	Russian Interior Ministry's operative group in concert with Azeri Prosecutor General's Office detained in Baku Ruslan Akhmadov, an organiser and leader of the Akhmadovs' criminal ring, and Badrudi Murtazayev, a member of paramilitary groups and an associate of terrorist leader Shamil Basayev.


	


	Ruslan Akhmadov jointly with his brothers Ramzan, Alti, Rezvan and others organised and participated in kidnapping for ransom since 1996. Thus the bandits abducted over 30 people. Among them are Sofia Fischer-Malanowska and Ewa Marhwinska-Wirwal of the international ecological centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and citizens of Britain, New Zealand and other countries. In all, the Russian Organised Crime Squad has exposed 34 abduction of the people who were hold as hostages.


	


	Besides, Ruslan Akhmadov is suspected of murdering three hostages.


	


	He provided funds, arms and ammunition to illegal bandit formations in Chechnya, and was involved in preparing and perpetrating terrorist and subversive acts on the territory of the republic.