Georgia Frees Suspected Terrorist On Bail

TBILISI -- A court in Tbilisi has released a suspected Chechen terrorist on bail.

Akhmed Chatayev from Russia's Chechen Republic was freed on $3,000 bail.

Previous bail requests by Chatayev's lawyers had been rejected, so it is not clear why he was released on December 6.

Chatayev was arrested in August during clashes in Georgia's Lopota Gorge between Georgian security forces and a group of militants from the neighboring Russian region of Daghestan.

He was charged with possession of illegal explosives.

Chatayev denied any wrongdoing, saying Georgian police asked him to negotiate with the alleged militants but then arrested him later at the scene.

Chatayev is reportedly associated with Chechen Islamic insurgency leader Doku Umarov.

After Chatayev's arrest, Georgian doctors had to amputate part of his foot because of a gunshot wound.