Lithuania Hints At Shutdown Of Pro-Chechen Website

17 September 2004 -- Lithuania says the website used by Chechen militant Shamil Basaev to claim responsibility for recent terrorist attacks in Russia, including the school hostage siege in Beslan, will likely be shut down.

Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas said today after a Defense Council meeting that "appropriate measure" will be taken to stop the kavkazcenter.com website operating from Lithuania.

Brazauskas noted that Lithuanian law prohibits terrorist propaganda and the instigation of ethnic hatred.

The site is regarded as a clearinghouse for pro-Chechen information and a mouthpiece for Chechen rebel leaders. It is based on a server in the apartment of renowned Soviet-era dissident and political prisoner Viktoras Petkus.

Petkus today accused Brazauskas of bowing to political pressure.

(AP/AFP)