U.S. Designates Chechen Rebel Leader as Terrorist

U.S. Designates Chechen Rebel Leader as Terrorist

Under Executive Order 13224, blocks assets in U.S. and bars transactions with Basayev

Secretary of State Colin Powell has designated Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev a threat to U.S. security and citizens.

This designation under Executive Order 13224 on terrorism financing blocks Basayev's assets in the United States and bars most transactions with him.

"We believe that Basayev, as leader of his group and individually, took part in planning and perpetrating terrorist acts," said State Department Deputy Spokeman Philip Reeker. Basayev has claimed responsibility for the seizure of the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow last October as well as other acts of terrorism.

In an August 8 Federal Register notice, Powell said Basayev "has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States."

Following are the texts of Reeker's statement and the Federal Register notice:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
August 8, 2003 Statement By Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman

DESIGNATION OF SHAMIL BASAYEV UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 13224 Secretary of State Colin L. Powell today designated Shamil Basayev, Amir (leader) of the Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs (RSRSBCM), under Executive Order 13224 on terrorism financing, blocking his assets in the U.S., held by U.S. persons and barring most transactions with him.

Secretary Powell designated Basayev's group on February 28, 2003, pursuant to section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, authorizing him to designate foreign entities and individuals he determines--in consultation with the Attorney General, the Treasury Secretary, and the Homeland Security Secretary--to have committed, or to pose significant risk of committing, acts of terror that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the U.S.

We believe that Basayev, as leader of his group and individually, took part in planning and perpetrating terrorist acts. He claimed responsibility for seizing the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow in October 2002. This act of terrorism resulted in the death of 129 hostages, including one U.S. citizen.

On December 27, 2002, Chechen suicide bombers destroyed the Chechen administration complex in Groznyy, killing 78 dead and wounding 150. Basayev claimed he personally pressed the button detonating the explosive device. On May 12, 2003, a truck loaded with explosives killed 60, including seven children and wounded 200 at a government compound in the Chechen town of Znamenskoye. The next day in Iliskhan-Yurt a female suicide bomber approached Akhmad Kadyrov, head of the pro-Moscow Chechen administration, at a local religious festival. The blast did not kill Kadyrov but it did kill the bomber and 18 others, wounding 43. Basayev publicly claimed to have planned these suicide bomb operations.

In November 2002, Basayev warned member states of international organizations in Russia that they were considered targets for future attacks.

For these and other acts of terror, the Secretary made today's designation. Because Basayev has links to al-Qaeda, the U.S., along with the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation, asked today that the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee include him on its consolidated list maintained pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1390 and 1455. Once listed, all UN Member States must impose arms and travel sanctions on Basayev, freeze his assets without delay, and prohibit their nationals and persons in their territories from making available to him any funds or other resources.

(end press release) (begin Federal Register notice) Federal Register: August 8, 2003 Volume 68, Number 153, page 47378 From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08au03-114] DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Public Notice: 4436

Determination Pursuant to Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 Relating to Shamil Basayev

Acting under the authority of section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, as amended by Executive Order 13286 of July 2, 2002, and Executive Order 13284 of January 23, 2003, and in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, I hereby determine that Shamil Basayev [Date of Birth: 1/14/1965, Place of Birth: Chechen village of Dyshni-Vedeno] has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.

Consistent with the determination in section 10 of Executive Order 13224 that ``prior notice to persons determined to be subject to the Order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States would render ineffectual the blocking and other measures authorized in the Order because of the ability to transfer funds instantaneously,'' I determine that no prior notice need be provided to any person subject to this determination who might have a constitutional presence in the United States because to do so would render ineffectual the measures authorized in the Order.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register.

Dated: August 4, 2003. Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State, Department of State. [FR Doc. 03-20310 Filed 8-7-03; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-10-P

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