Poland: Court Releases Chechen Separatist Leader

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- A Polish court has ordered the release of a Chechen separatist leader pending a decision on whether he can be extradited to Russia.

The decision by a Warsaw regional court Friday evening came hours after Ahmad Zakayev -- one of Russia's most wanted men -- was arrested in Poland on Russian charges of murder, kidnapping and terrorism during Chechnya's separatist war in the 1990s.

Zakayev was in Warsaw to attend an international conference on Chechnya.
Conference organizer Adam Borowski said the court decision means Zakayev will stay in Poland until courts decided whether he can be extradited to Russia.

Zakayev, who was granted asylum in Britain years ago, says the accusations against him are made up.