MOSCOW. May 16 (Interfax-AVB) - Moscow is insisting on the extradition of three Chechen rebels from Georgia.
"Mildly speaking, Moscow was surprised at the refusal of Georgian judicial authorities to extradite Russian citizens, who were detained in Georgia with arms in their hands and are facing terrorism and banditry charges, to Russia," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told journalists on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Georgian Supreme Court refused to extradite three ethnic Chechens to Russia.
"This verdict runs counter to international law, the agreements achieved by the Russian and Georgian presidents in Chisinau on October 6, 2002, and Georgia's stated commitment to the fight against international terrorism," the spokesman said.
"Russia continues to push for the extradition of all rebels involved in grave crimes in Russia who are now hiding in Georgia," Yakovenko stated.