Family of Maskhadov, leader of Chechnya separatists, seeks asylum in Finland

The family of Aslan Maskhadov, leader of separatists, killed in Chechnya, has applied for political asylum in Finland. The RIA "Novosti" has spread this information with a reference to the "Finland-Caucasus" Society operating in Helsinki. The president's office has confirmed the receipt of this application, but gave no comments, Finnish media report.

According to the "Finland-Caucasus" Society, Maskhadov's family is currently living in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan.

Earlier, the Chief Administration of the RF General Prosecutor's Office for the South Federal District (SFD) informed that the body of Aslan Maskhadov, former president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, killed on March 8, 2005, would not be given out to relatives for burial. This letter arrived on April 21 to the Anti-War Club in response to its appeal to president of Russia Vladimir Putin to give out Maskhadov'd body to his family. The appeal was signed by about 500 persons, Irina Vologina, who organized collection of signatures, told the story to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

"Because of A. A. Maskhadov's terrorist activities in the territory of the Russian Federation, he was brought to criminal responsibility for especially serious crimes. In view of this fact, custody was appointed as a freedom restriction measure for him, and the accused Maskhadov was announced into search. Burial of such persons is made under the Regulations on burial of the persons, whose death was a result of stopping a terrorist action committed by them, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 20, 2003, No. 164. In such cases, their bodies are not given out for burial, and the place of their burial is not disclosed. Answers were given to similar requests of the relatives of the late Maskhadov," runs the letter received by Irina Vologina from the prosecutor's office. The document was signed by A. Bodrov, department head of the Chief Administration of the RF General Prosecutor's Office for the SFD.

We remind you that 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 the appeal to Russian president V. Putin to give out the body of the perished separatists' leader 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.