GROZNY, February 21 (RIA Novosti) - The acting Chechen prime minister said Tuesday that $1 million had been paid for the assassination of President Akhmad Kadyrov through a terrorist attack in May 2004.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of the late president, said at a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour that the money had been channeled through Chechen separatist emissary Akhmed Zakayev, who recently received political asylum in the United Kingdom.
"Zakayev, who is in London, is a criminal and a killer," Kadyrov said.
The acting premier said he would bring the fight against international terrorism to a successful end, and reestablish order in the republic. He said he was concerned over the security of Chechnya's residents, whose protection was his duty "as a Russian, a Chechen, and a Muslim."
Speaking on the present situation in the republic, Kadyrov said Chechnya had functioning legislative authorities and rule of law.
Louise Arbour, who met with Chechen President Alu Alkhanov Tuesday, said she was concerned over abductions in the republic as well as the use of torture.
Arbour said it was impossible to trust a political system if there was no trust in the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. However, she said, Chechnya was living with an improved political situation, and restored economic infrastructure.
She expressed her regret that the republic had not fully switched from the supremacy of force to the rule of law.
