Bulgaria Lets Russia-Wanted Chechen Go as German Refugee

Alleged Chechen terrorist Mohmad Gadamouri (left) has been wanted by Russia but has a refugee status from Germany. Fo;e [jpmp

The District Court in Bulgaria's Danube city of Ruse has released a Chechen man who was arrested upon entering the country on August 3, 2012, because he was wanted by Russia via Interpol over alleged involvement in terrorism.

The 47-year-old Chechen Mohmad Gadamouri entered Bulgaria with his five children, telling the border authorities he was arriving on vacation. Upon inspection, however, the border officers found that he is wanted for being part of a terrorist group that planned a terrorist attack in the Russian republic of Ingushetia back in 2003. He is believed to have been hiding in Europe ever since.

The man was also wanted for illegal trading of arms and toxic substances. He was supposed to be detained for 40 days in the Ruse detention facility, until his potential extradition.

However, on Thursday, the court in Ruse ruled that Gadamouri cannot be extradited to Russia because of the fact that he has been granted a refugee status by Germany under the Geneva Convention for Refugees.

Furthermore, the Bulgarian court believes the Chechen man could be mistreated if he gets sent back to Russia.

The alleged Chechen "terrorist", whose arrest was advertised by the Bulgarian Interior, told the court that he was innocent, and that he had had to run away because he feared for his life, and that he never participated in the Russian wars in Chechnya.

He claimed that the whole issue with him began when he bought a house in Ingushetia, with the previous owner retaining access to it through an individual entrance.

Subsequently, the Russian police searched the house, and found incriminating materials; upon cooperating with the Russian federal security service FSB, the former owner of the house accused him of being a spy, and threatened him.

The next day Gadamouri and his family left from Poland, asking for a refugee status, and then transferring to Germany.

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