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Arabia
Russia prepared for swap with Qatar
2004-03-20
Moscow is preparing an exchange of two Qatari nationals detained here three weeks ago for two Russian secret service agents arrested in Doha on murder charges, the Kommersant business daily reported on Friday. The two men, arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport on February 26, had been held by the Federal Security Service (FSB, ex-KGB), but were recently put under the jurisdiction of Russia’s foreign ministry ahead of the planned swap, the newspaper said. Foreign ministry press officials declined to comment on the report.
This is the traditional Russian reaction when its guys are caught. Remember the exchanges that used to take place at Checkpoint Charlie?
The Qataris were detained shortly after Doha’s arrest of two Russian intelligence agents, who are charged with assassinating a leading Chechen rebel, the former president of the breakaway republic Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, in the Qatari capital on February 13. Qatari officials however have identified the detainees as Nasser Ibrahim Saad al-Madhihiki and Ibrahim Ahmed Nasser Ahmed, members of the nation’s wrestling federation. The Qataris were detained when customs discovered that al-Makhihiki was carrying 7,200 dollars that he did not declare, according to Alexander Dubrovksy, their Belarusian team trainer who was stopped along with the two men and later released. Russia’s new Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday reiterated Moscow’s demands that Qatar free the two Russian agents.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#8  Yushenkov? So Putin had him killed. Yeah right.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-3-20 7:35:38 PM  

#7  And do you have, btw, any reason to believe that Putin is heading to the direction of "undoing" what communism has done to Russia?

The restoration of KGB, and the efforts at restoration of Soviet union, with a Belarus-Moldova-Russia union, and the crushing of dissent, all indicate that Putin is doing his darndest to restore Soviet Union.

This time on the model of China, which allows some private property to its citizens, even as it retains the right to shoot them at will.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2004-3-20 6:40:06 PM  

#6  I have little understanding of Russia? I'd say you probably have much less understanding of Russia than I do. Because you seem to be thinking that popularity alone makes a politician worthy or harmless or freedom-loving, or a person that we must generally support.

I notice that you didn't respond on the little issue of the terrorist-like hostage-taking, btw.
I assume you wouldn't have a response on the issue of the quarter million Chechens killed either.

"Do you have anyone better than Putin in mind to run the country? I thought not."

Why do you assume I don't? How about Yushenkov?

And if we are to restrict ourselves to only non-murdered politicians how about Nemtsov?
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2004-3-20 6:36:06 PM  

#5  I should add, had Putin done all these things 70 years in the future...70 years after the fall of communism...after 70 years of "democracy"...then I would agree with you. In the meantime, it will take 70 years to undo what communism has done for Russia.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-3-20 5:19:04 PM  

#4  You have very little understanding of Russia. Do you have anyone better than Putin in mind to run the country? I thought not.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-3-20 5:12:30 PM  

#3  "Terrorists??? Goodness gracious.

Taking innocent people as hostages to use as leverage in demanding the release of your killers. Was it Hamas or Hezbollah who last used this tactic?

"Putin's re-election really put a burr under your saddle, hasn't it? "

Well he did kill, imprison, or force to exile all of his important opponents. And has all the media under his thumb.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/media/pressrel/030504.htm

"Long live Putin."

Is that because he's opposing Muslim separatists in Chechenya or because he's supporting Muslim separatists in Georgia? And other sort of separatists in Ukraine and Moldova?
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2004-3-20 4:59:32 PM  

#2  Terrorists??? Goodness gracious. Putin's re-election really put a burr under your saddle, hasn't it? Long live Putin.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-3-20 3:02:31 PM  

#1  Exchanging captured murderers for hostages.

Bad bargain - I seriously hope (without much hope) that Qatar doesn't accept it in the end. One should never make deals with terrorists, especially when it's about releasing more of their number.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2004-3-20 2:20:38 PM  

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