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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Russian diplomat on Chechen hit list |
| 2005-09-06 |
| Russia wants its ambassador here to be allowed to have Russian âarmedâ security personnel. The reason: a threat to his life from certain militant groups having links with extremist organisations in Chechnya. After being warned by Russian agencies of a âhigh threat perceptionâ to Vyacheslav Trubnikov, the embassy recently routed the request through the Foreign Office to the Home Ministry. Indian intelligence and security agencies too have warned the Home Ministry that militant groups are planning to eliminate Trubnikov. According to a Home Ministry note on the issue, Trubnikov was associated with an intelligence agency in the erstwhile USSR â possibly the KGB, which might explain the threat from Chechen militant outfits. Intelligence sources confirmed that there were reports indicating a possible link between Chechen rebels and militant outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba which operate in the Kashmir Valley. Following the inputs, security for the Russian ambassador and at the embassy has been beefed up. The Russian Embassy asked for two armed security personnel to guard Trubnikov. âWeâve made security arrangements for the ambassador till a final decision is taken on the issue,â said a ministry official. Though an ambassador can have his own private security personnel, permission is required from the Home Ministry if armed personnel are needed. A similar permission has been granted to the Israeli ambassador, who is also in the âhigh security riskâ category. Following the input on the Russian ambassador, the Home Ministry has directed the Indian intelligence agencies to do a security review of diplomats, particularly those from the US, the UK, France, Japan and some Islamic countries. Currently, the Delhi Police provide the security cover to most of them. Providing security to diplomats is the responsibility of the host country. But within the compound of the embassy, the country concerned can have its own security arrangements. The Americans, for instance, have the US Marines guarding the embassy premises. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |