Coming soon, to a formerly stable country near you!
A group of armed Chechens intends to move to the territory of Azerbaijan, according to Russian media reports. Khizry Labayev, deputy head of the Dagestani Tsuntin District Administration for Public Security, told the Interfax news agency that it is very easy to cross into Azerbaijani territory from Ansukh village, where the group was last seen. Labayev underlined that those seeking to pass into Azerbaijan are terrorists. Other armed people intend to move to Georgia and Chechnya. In an interview with ANS TV, Elchin Guliyev head of the Azerbaijan State Border Service rebuffed Labayev’s assertions, noting that the area where the armed Chechens are located is far from Azerbaijan’s borders.
| Sounds like he's very over-confident... |
In addition, the roads through the mountains are frequently blocked due to heavy snow fall. He underlined that the terrorists were moving to the Russian-Georgian border.
| "Nope. Nope. Ain't comin' here. Nope..." |
The Russian Defense Minister, in turn, told journalists that Russia’s federal forces had blockaded the Chechen militants in the mountains. He also stressed that all of them would quickly be captured and killed if they show resistance.
| Always assuming the Russers can find them... |
It has been noted, however, that it is difficult to prevent Chechen rebels from entering Georgia, as there are many uncontrolled mountain roads between Dagestan and Georgia. An armed group recently killed nine Russian soldiers and occupied a mountain village while traveling to Dagestan through the mountainous areas of Chechnya. The terrorists were forced to retreat to mountainous areas after additional federal troops were deployed. Russian newspapers report that criminal gangs are still active in mountainous forests of Zakatala and Balakan districts in northwest Azerbaijan. The militants can easily slip into neighboring Dagestan in southern Russia, and make contact with Chechen rebels. In 2002 a criminal gang was apprehended in Balakan district as result of a special operation by Azeri law enforcement. The gang’s leader was killed, but some members escaped into Dagestan. Some pundits believe that Russian news reports about Chechen rebels trying to enter Azerbaijan are attempts to create pressure on the Azeri government. It has been theorized that Russia is concerned about the growing possibility of deployment of NATO troops in Azerbaijan. Russia seems to be trying to find reasons to strengthen its border with Azerbaijan, should that scenario come to pass. Last week, some Russian MPs called for such steps if NATO troops are deployed. |