Russia Summons German Envoy Over Meeting Between Lawmaker and Chechen Exile
Diplomatic Tensions Rise Over German Lawmaker's Meeting
Background of the Incident
MOSCOW, April 27 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday it had summoned the German ambassador over a meeting in Kyiv between a German lawmaker and a Chechen separatist who Moscow says leads a "terrorist" organisation.
Russia said it had lodged a complaint with German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorff over what it said were talks between Bundestag deputy Roderich Kiesewetter and Akhmed Zakayev, whom Moscow says leads the outlawed "Chechen Republic of Ichkeria".
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: Historical Context
The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria won de facto independence from Moscow after the first Chechen War in the mid‑1990s, but its leadership later went into exile.
Ichkeria is the historical name for Russia's southern region of Chechnya, which was devastated by two bloody wars between Russian troops and Chechen separatists following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
Russia designates Ichkeria as a terrorist organisation and treats any related structures or representatives as outlawed.
Official Responses and Reactions
Russian Foreign Ministry's Statement
"A strong protest has been expressed with the ambassador regarding the recent meeting in Kyiv," the foreign ministry said, adding that Moscow viewed the contacts as interference in Russia’s internal affairs and warned Berlin of "negative consequences" for actions it described as hostile.
German Government's Response
Foreign Office's Position
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office in Berlin called the allegations "completely unfounded and baseless".
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva and Anna Peverieri; Additional reporting by Alexander Ratz in Berlin; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin and Ros Russell)
