h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A quick summary - the questions asked follow (so please be patient ):

The Chechnyan World Congress has just held a session in Denmark. This happended to be just a few days after the awful hostage incident in Moscow - and understandably has angered and dismaýed many Russians. The situation has now deterioated into a major crisis between Russia and Denmark with points as follows:

1) Russia demanded that Denmark should forbid the congress.
2) Denmark didn't - in fact, a Minister forbidding such a privately held political meeting would be violating the rule of freedom of assembly in the Danish constitution.
3) Russia send a list of participants considered to be terrorists - and one, Akhmed Sakajev, is being held by the Danish police while it's being determined whether he can be extradited to Russia. Currently, the data given from Russia according to the Danish Minister of Justice does not fulfil international treaties to do so.
4) The Russian Duma (parliament) now threatens with all kinds of political and economical actions against Denmark if we don't extradite Sakajev.

*phew*

Now -

Is this incident being discussed or even mentioned in other countries than Denmark and Russia?

What are your feelings: Should Denmark firmly stick to principles (as we have done), thus allowing the meeting and insist on evidence before eventually extraditing Sakajev?

Is Russia, given that they have just been offer for a very nasty terrorist incident by Chechians in Moscow, in their right to throw their weight into pressing Denmark - or are they being the big bull in the China shop?

(the one thing I don't need to ask is whether attacks like the one in Moscow are OK or even understandable - it's not!)

I was under the impression that Russia was "delighted" at Denmark for arresting one of the congress leaders at Moscow's request.

ho hum.

I've heard absolutely nothing about this, in the UK, and I doubt it's getting very far in any other direction.
In theory, I think Denmark should stick to their guns, but I will understand if they don't. Being where the country is, goods trade through the Baltic Sea to Russia must be a major source of income, and the judgement may be made that that simply can't be given away for just one man.
If the charges are backed up by sufficient evidence, Denmark should hand him over. If they aren't, Russia should not even be asking.

I'll make a point of looking for that story in the US & I will get back to you.

It sounds like the kind of thing that would be featured in the secondary supplement of a British newspaper for a cover story, and then never mentioned in the UK again until the historians of the Chechen War get hold of it. One of my uncles lives in Belgium, where he can get most BBC channels, and he has commented that the TV news in the UK is really overly centred on the British side of things, even when it comes to international affairs.

Sadly I haven't heard much about it being in Asia. But I hope Denmark tells Russia to shove it, and not bow to their demands.

I guess I must be the only person who saw this then:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2374651.stm

I guess I must be the only person who saw this then:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2374651.stm

Technically I believe Denmark also has the death penalty. For helping the enemy during a war. But I don't think that has been used for over a hundred years.

And I don't think it applies here, either.

I think that one of the most interesting parts is that Sakajev not long ago was "OK" - as said in the BBC article linked above:

'Last November, he held talks with the Russian Government, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, on the situation in Chechnya.

Moscow officials described those talks as "cordial and constructive" at the time.'

But now, he's a terrorist - quick turn of mind, I'd say...

"But now, he's a terrorist - quick turn of mind, I'd say..."

Well, there was no Theatre-siege last November.

>>What are your feelings: Should Denmark firmly stick to principles (as we have done), thus allowing the meeting and insist on evidence before eventually extraditing Sakajev?<<
My feelings are that Denmark should firmly stick to principles, as it has done...

I am not computer savy ,so sorry no direct link----I did aol search for Denmark news, and found more than under Russian news. It is there.

I too think that denmark should stand up to threats. But also should be careful. Russia might decide to take the lead from how the US dealt with the situation with Afghanistan. Lets hope the Russians respect international law a little more than the americans do.

"Lets hope the Russians respect international law a little more than the americans do."

fat bloody chance of that, mate.

Then the question is, how far would they go?

NZ was threatened with trade to the EU being blocked by France in order to keep two of their terrorists/agents free.

Well-done, Denmark! Russia should not be as arrogant as it is now. The Russian government has to learn to respect laws and to become a bit civilized. I´ll take a look at Russian sites and come back then.

Anna Banana (from the former USSR - the greatest banana republik in the world, if you know what I mean)

The idea that Denmark should fear a Russian invasion is rather fanciful. Russia didn't invade any NATO states when it was at the height of its military powers and it's certainly not going to do it now.