Russia arrests two Qataris
Russian intelligence has arrested two Qatari nationals in Moscow claiming they are connected to armed groups.
Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Saturday the two Qataris were accused of having links to armed groups in the Russian territories – making reference to the breakaway province of Chechnya.
The arrest came a day after Russian officials angrily denounced Qatar’s arrest of two of its intelligence agents in Doha and demanded their release.
The officials had warned of a diplomatic row between the two nations over the affair.
Qatar’s interior ministry had announced on Thursday two men had been charged with assassinating former Chechen president Salim Khan Yandarbiyev through a car bomb attack.
Russia has flatly denied the accusations against the detained men and insisted it was not involved in the Chechen leader’s assassination.