Denmark's release of Chechen clouds relations with Russia

Denmark risked a breakdown of relations with Russia last night, by releasing a Chechen separatist whom Moscow wants extradited to stand trial on charges linked to terrorism.

Russia's foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, pointedly said the decision to release Akhmed Zakayev, who was arrested in Copenhagen last month, was "not devoid of political motives", alluding to the supposed Danish sympathy for the Chechen separatists.

Mr Zakayev had been in custody as Danish authorities awaited evidence from Moscow justifying their extradition request. The Danish justice ministry considered the evidence they were presented to be "insufficient".

The extradition request and subsequent release were particularly sensitive, as Mr Zakayev's arrest was asked for by Moscow days after the end of the Dubrovka theatre siege when Chechen gunmen held more than 800 people hostage in central Moscow.

The Kremlin hoped the request would be honoured as Russia's own "war on terror" against Chechen separatists had been in part legitimised by sympathetic comments from Washington and other western countries during the siege. They said Mr Zakayev was linked to the theatre gunmen.

The Danish authorities were not swayed. "An extradition cannot be made on basis of the present material," said Jakob Scharf, the head of the ministry's international department. Mr Zakayev "could freely leave the country", he added.

Mr Ivanov retorted that Mr Zakayev was on "the international wanted list, so Russia will do its utmost to have Zakayev and other terrorist leaders in Chechnya detained and brought to justice."

Speaking in New Delhi, Mr Ivanov promised steps to detain Mr Zakayev even though he did not know where he was.

Mr Zakayev, a close aide and spokesman for the elected Chechen separatist president, Aslan Maskhadov, was arrested as he attended a Copenhagen meeting of human rights activists on October 30.

Denmark told Russia to provide evidence sufficient to justify Mr Zakayev's extradition by November 30.

The separatist leader has a visa, issued in London, which enables him to travel to any of the 15 European Union countries.

He has been staying at the home of Vanessa Redgrave. Yesterday Ms Redgrave said: "Miracles still happen in this awful world."

· Yesterday the UN criticised Moscow's decision to close two camps in Ingushetia housing refugees from neighbouring Chechnya since the weekend. Russia insists conditions are safe inside the war-torn republic.