A senior Chechen envoy would face persecution for his political beliefs and would not get a fair trial if he were extradited to Russia on charges of mass murder, a court heard today.
Extradition proceedings against Mr Akhmed Zakaev (44), entered their final stages today.
Mr Zakaev is fighting Russian attempts to have him extradited from Britain on 13 charges including kidnap, taking part in the murder of more than 300 militiaofficers and levying war.
Lawyers for Mr Zakaev, an actor turned politician dubbed the Chechen Laurence Olivier, warned that he would not get a fair trial if sent to Russia and that hewould be "unduly punished" because of his nationality and political views.
In his closing remarks at the hearing in London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court, Mr Edward Fitzgerald QC, warned that Chechens were tortured and persecutedin Russian prisons because of their nationality.
He said Russia's case against Mr Zakaev was "an abuse of process".
There were "long delays" between the alleged crimes and the Russian move to prosecute Zakaev, Mr Fitzgerald said.
The allegations relate to incidents between October 1995 and December 31 2000, when Chechnya was fighting for independence from Russia.
"He will be persecuted or unduly punished or disposed of informally because of his Chechen nationality and his political opinions," Mr Fitzgerald said.
Mr Fitzgerald said Russia had been unhappy that Zakaev -Deputy Prime Minister of the exiled Chechen government -had been received around the world as a representative of the Chechen people.
"He is the elected representative of the government of Chechnya. That is what made him the target of this prosecution," he said.
District Judge Timothy Workman said he would not be reaching a decision today but would take some time to consider the case.
PA