Brussels, 05/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Harlem Désir, French member of the European Parliament's Socialist Group, asked External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten in a written question whether the European Commission plans to approach Denmark to prevent the extradition of Akhmed Zakaiev, who was arrested at Russia's request when representing the Chechen President Mashkadov at the World Congress of Chechens in Copenhagen (see EUROPE of 31 October, p.6). Harlem Désir expresses concern that envisaging the extradition of Mr Zakaiev, as the Danish government seems to be doing, is unacceptable coming from a country of the Union, and all the more coming from the country holding Council Presidency, as Russia has only suspended, but not abolished, the death penalty. In his view, the EU Member States should not give their support to the Russian policy of repression and negation of the rights of the Chechen people, at a time when bombing, displacement and massacres of the civilian population are intensifying.