Quote Originally Posted by bourbon View Post
State Department to leave Chechen rebel group off terror list, by Josh Rogin. ForeignPolicy.com: The Cable, April 29, 2010.
U.S. Designates Chechen Militant Umarov As A 'Terrorist', RFE/RL, 24 June 2010.
The United States has designated Russia's most-wanted militant leader as a terrorist.

The State Department on June 23 said the listing, approved by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would block the assets of Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov and sanction individuals or companies doing business with him.

The announcement -- seen as another sign of improving ties between Washington and Moscow – comes ahead of talks between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, in Washington today.
Bargaining chip?