Chechen warlords plan to flee abroad

Chechen rebel leaders fear for their lives. They are now more cautious, and they plan to flee abroad, sources in the regional command center for the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus told RBC.

This information was obtained from detained fighters. According to intelligence services, some warlords are waiting until federal troops complete the current stage of their counter-terrorist operation in the republic’s mountainous and forest area, and are preparing to flee outside Russia.

Field commander Doka Umarov does not take part in rebel attacks now, for fear of being arrested. With a small group of militants, he migrates in the south of the republic, stopping at night in different locations. He keeps away from villages and avoids meeting with locals. The members of Umarov’s gang are stocking up on food.

Over the past two weeks, special forces of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry have been carrying out a large scale operation against a large gang of militants, operating in the forest area of eastern Chechnya. Seven bandits were seized and killed in the course of the operation, including two Arab mercenaries. The identity of one of them has been established – Khalil Rudvan, a Canadian Afro-American. According to some reports, Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov was among those militants who escaped.

The activity of Chechen fighters has not subsided. Over the past three days alone, they have carried out more than 10 terrorist attacks, in which three servicemen were killed.

Chechen leaders’ relatives say stop terrorism, punish massacre perpetrators
AsiaNews.it ^ | September 7, 2004 | Staff

Posted on 09/09/2004 10:26:08 PM CDT by Luis Gonzalez
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1211655/posts?page=19

Moscow (AsiaNews) – Events in Beslan have had an unusual and unexpected impact in Chechnya. The local population, which had largely backed the actions by Chechen terrorists, seems to have turned against them. Separatists’ families, including those of anti-Russian resistance leaders such as Maskhadov, Basayev, Umarov –who are thought to have orchestrated the Beslan attack– have publicly condemned the actions of their relatives.

Pamzan and Ruslan Maskhadov, cousins of former Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov called on him to end terrorism. “Today, life is back to normal in the Chechen Republic. It is possible to work and receive a salary,” the two brothers said. “Consequently, the reasons for terror are neither present nor justified.” They urged Mashkadov to put an end to his actions once and for all and stop the gangs “who have killed hundreds of innocent children.” They also asked Ossetians for forgiveness.

Zholzan Abdulkadyrova, Aslan Maskhadov’s sister, appealed to her brother telling him to stop the crimes against helpless people. In the early phase of the Beslan crisis, Ms Abdulkadyrova had offered herself as a hostage in place of the children held. “Chechens,” she said, “do not want to be the enemies either of Ossetians, Ingushs or Russians.”

Junus Kurazov, deputy mufti in Chechnya’s Vedensky district and husband to Shamil Basayev’s cousin, expressed his solidarity with the people of North Ossetia. “These child-killing gangsters are terrorists and should be punished. These people will never receive forgiveness for their sins; only Almighty Allah might do it.” He added that “terrorism has no national or ethnic colour. Whoever they are, no matter their nationality, ethnicity or religion, they should be punished.”

In his Vedensky mosque, mufti Kurazov led Friday prayers for the murdered children and the people of Ossetia. “Ossetians have always helped Chechens, and in these heavy days, Chechens must pray and support them,” Kurazov said.

Umar Gudaev, Basayev’s father-in-law, and Nasir Sideev, husband to Basayev’s aunt, joined Kurazov in expressing their outrage. “The terrorists have crossed the point of no return into the world of cruelty and brutality. They have used weapons against defenceless children and women,” they said.

Relatives of Doku Umarov, another Chechen leader suspected of involvement in the Beslan attack, have also condemned the terrorist actions.

Despite the genuine revulsion on the part of terrorists’ relatives anger and resentment have boiled over and led some Chechens to prepare reprisal attacks against rebel leaders’ relatives. “Their lives were in danger,” said Ilya Shabalkin, official representative of the Russian federal counterterrorist services (FSB), “and we had evidence that ‘spontaneous groups’ were being formed in various areas of Chechnya to kill Chechen leaders” relatives. However, because of our preventive actions we were able to take them into protective custody and save them from retaliation,” the FSB general said.

The death of the innocent has provoked sorrow and angst throughout Chechnya. Many Chechens have joined the chorus of voices condemning the Beslan attack. Several demonstrations have taken place in the republic to denounce the terrorists and condemn the massacre. One demonstrator was quoted as saying: “As Chechens we can relate to what happened in Beslan. And we are ready to help the people hurt by the terrorists.” (AF)

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