GROZNY. April 7, 2004 (Interfax) - Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov said former Chechen separatist president Aslan Maskhadov will not surrender as long as the other separatist leader, Shamil Basayev, is still alive.
"Maskhadov will not dare do this under any circumstances as long as Basayev, whom he feared when president of Ichkeria in 1997-99 and whom he fears even more now, remains alive," he said.
He pointed out that Maskhadov made all decisions under Basayev's guidance, and fearing him "like the devil."
"If Maskhadov had not been afraid of Basayev he would have surrendered a long time ago," he said.
Asked if he had direct or indirect contacts with Maskhadov, Kadyrov said that he is conducting a dialogue with him through the media.
"I am again urging him to surrender without looking back to anyone," Kadyrov said
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