Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had addressed French authorities over Zakayev's visit to Strasbourg, and demands a prompt explanation as to why Zakayev, who is wanted in Russia for acts of terrorism committed during Russia's second military campaign in Chechnya in the late nineties, was allowed to make the trip.
A senior Russian delegate, Leonid Slutsky, said earlier London-based Zakayev, had been seen at the Palace of Europe, the seat of the Council of Europe, during the ongoing summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
"The appearance of Zakayev in Strasbourg aroused serious questions from our side, and we turned to the appropriate authorities in France asking them to provide explanations on this issue, as he is in fact on an Interpol wanted list," Sergei Lavrov told a briefing after talks with his Dutch counterpart, Maxime Verhagen, in Moscow.
Zakayev was granted political asylum in the U.K. after fleeing Russia in 2003. London has refused Moscow's repeated requests for his extradition.
The Dutch foreign minister backed Lavrov's stance. "I would like to join this position and note that this [Zakayev's visit to Strasbourg] lies on the shoulders of the French authorities. I hope the issue will be resolved soon," he said.
