Russia will continue to try to return Russians convicted in Qatar to the homeland

Friday, January 22, 2021

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"We have taken notice of the decision of the Qatar Court of Appeal. We will continue our insistent efforts to return our nationals to the homeland," said the Foreign Ministry. The Qatar Court of Appeal turned down on Thursday the appeal by the lawyers of two Russians sentenced on June 30 in Doha to life imprisonment on charges of murdering Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, an emissary of Chechen separtatists. Early on February 19, 2004, Qatar special services arrested three Russian citizens who were in Qatar on a mission. They were accused of murdering Yandarbiyev, who died in a car explosion on February 13. One of those detained, first secretary of the Russian Federation Embassy in Qatar, who had diplomatic immunity, was released and returned to Russia in March. The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said that the Russian nationals were not guilty, demanded their release and return to the homeland. On July 21, Doha hosted the first session of the court of appeal. The decision on the case was postponed until July 29. On July 23, Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov visited Qatar. He met with Qatar Crown Prince Tamim bin-Hamad Al-Thani. This was the second visit by Igor Ivanov to Qatar after the Russians were arrested.

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