Russia reacted furiously today to Britain's release on bail of top Chechen rebel envoy Mr Akhmed Zakayev - wanted by Moscow for alleged terror crimes - after his arrival in London from Denmark.
Acting on a request from Russia, which is waging a lengthy war against separatists in its southern Chechen province, British police arrested Mr Zakayev as he flew into London's Heathrow Airport yesterday.
But he was later released on bail pending an extradition hearing at a London magistrates' court on Wednesday.
"What if another terrorist had come to London - (Osama) bin Laden, who, like Zakayev, is under an international search?" said Russian Foreign Minister Mr Igor Ivanov, at a Lisbon meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
"And if bin Laden had said new terrorist acts were being prepared against civilian targets in the U.S., how would he be dealt with? Like Zakayev? Take him into the police station and then let him out on the street?"
Mr Zakayev has said the only way to prevent militant attacks in Russia is to hold political talks with fugitive rebels on a settlement to war in Chechnya. Russian officials say this shows that rebel leaders are preparing such attacks.
Current European Union president Denmark had arrested Mr Zakayev while he was there for a meeting of Chechen exiles, but released him earlier this week after 34 days in custody, saying Moscow's evidence was insufficient for extradition. Russia also lashed out at Denmark today.
"Sadly, we are forced to note that behind the connivance of the Danish authorities is their position as a point of support for Chechen terrorists and their accomplices," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
"How many more innocent people must be sacrificed for 'Danish democracy' before Copenhagen understands it is responsible for carrying out a policy of 'double standards' in the fight against terrorism?"