Honecker Gets a Few More Days to Clear Out of Russia
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MOSCOW — Russia gave former East German leader Erich Honecker a brief respite Saturday, saying he could stay in his refuge at the Chilean Embassy until Monday.
But Russian Justice Minister Nikolai Fyodorov, speaking to the Tass news agency, made clear that his republic stands by its demand that Honecker must leave the country.
North Korea said Saturday that it would accept Honecker, wanted in Germany on manslaughter charges, on humanitarian grounds to offer him medical treatment. He is reported to suffer from kidney cancer.
But the German Foreign Ministry said it had been assured by Russia on Friday that Honecker would not be allowed to seek asylum in any other country.
Fyodorov said Russian Federation authorities had agreed to Honecker’s request to extend the Friday midnight deadline.
Honecker, 79, has been holed up at the embassy compound since Wednesday, after Russia threatened to expel him.
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