| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Chechen hard boyz from more than 40 countries |
| 2004-09-28 |
| Nationals from more than 40 countries were among gunmen killed in Chechnya during the counter-terrorist operation, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday during the meeting with Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles. One more group of terrorists was destroyed in the Chechen mountains on Monday, and in the group were Turkish nationals, the minister said. Turkish nationals are regularly found among killed gunmen, he noted. The numerical strength of the armed forces in Chechnya was reduced substantially in recent years, Ivanov said. Defence Ministry personnel has been a minority among "people with shoulder straps" in the republic for a long time already, the minister noted. Motorised Infantry Division 42 of the Defence Ministry is deployed in Chechnya and will remain there. Its numerical strength is around 15,000-16,000 people. There are also commando detachments in Chechnya, including detachments comprising Russian citizens residing in Chechnya. Their operations are rather successful and efficient, Ivanov added. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |