Putin rules out links between Chechnya, airport bombing

"The preliminary investigation shows that it is not linked to Chechen Republic," Putin said in his televised remarks last night.His remarks came as 'Kommersant' daily reported that an ethnic Russian, allegedly belonging to an extremist group, has been named by police as the prime suspect behind Monday's suicide attack at the Domodedovo International Airport here that claimed 35 lives and left over 180 people injured.

The suspect, whose surname was revealed by police as Razdobudko, is allegedly a member of the Nogai Jamaat terrorist group disbanded in October 2010.

Police say Razdobudko, a resident of the Stavropol territory in south Russia bordering the volatile Caucasus region, could be one of the organisers or even a perpetrator of Monday's attack at Domodedovo airport.

"He is by no means the only person being investigated for taking part in the terrorist attack, so we should not jump to any conclusions," a source close to the investigation was as quoted as saying by the daily.

The source said DNA and other tests were still being carried out to establish the identity of the suicide bomber. So far there has been no official confirmation of the information.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which came less than 12 months after two woman suicide bombers from the volatile North Caucasus struck the Moscow metro, killing 40 people.

Soon after the airport bombing, it was suspected to be the handiwork of separatists from Chechnya or elsewhere in the restive Caucasus region who have been battling Russian security forces for over 15 years.

Putin also ruled out any talks with the "terrorists" saying such a move would encourage them to carry out more terror attacks and killings of innocent people.

"It is necessary to fight mercilessly with terrorism and extremism. All civilised societies (must) unite against such threats and slam bandits and extremists," he said.
Putin said attempts to hold peace talks with Chechen terrorists in early 1990s led to the first and the second Chechen Wars.

However, he said the Russian government had never dismissed talks with the political figures, who strive for settlement.