The Spiegel said the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) had rejected an application from Apti Bisultanov, 47, wanted in Russia for his alleged role in instigating terrorism in Chechnya.
The agency said its refusal was based on Bisultanov being suspected of "war crimes and crimes against humanity," but stopped short of ordering his extradition to Russia over concerns that he may be subjected to "torture and inhumane treatment" there, the Spiegel reported.
According to the periodical, German authorities believe that Bisultanov, who served as minister of social affairs in Chechnya's separatist government, "is politically responsible for the Chechen [rebel] movement's armed units accused of human rights abuse." This applies specifically to events of 1999 when at least 40,000 civilians were used by Chechen rebels as a human shield in fighting against Russian federal forces in the capital of Grozny.
Russia's first military campaign in Chechnya in 1994-1996 ended in the rebellious republic gaining de facto independence from Moscow. The Kremlin made another attempt to restore control over the province in 1999, establishing a pro-Russian government there and eliminating some of Chechnya's high-profile rebel leaders, including former president Aslan Maskhadov and warlord Shamil Basayev, believed to be behind the 2004 Beslan school siege and other terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus and in other Russian cities.
