A bit of a follow-up to the Georgian denials ...
Chechen field commander Ruslan Gelayev has created a stable system of interregional drug trade between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, representative of the regional headquarters for the anti-terrorist campaign in the North Caucasus Col. Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax on Thursday.
So he has contacts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and I imagine that there are IMU folks in Tajikistan. The IMU was said to have had a role in coordinating the hostage seige last October.
"According to rebels, who have surrendered to police, Ruslan Gelayev and his group are based in Svanetia, Georgia. He has friendly relations with a number of regional leaders and businessmen, and he is involved in commerce via dummy companies," Shabalkin said.
Pleasant fellow. Maybe liberalhawk was right and heâs just renting ...
Some of Gelayevâs rebels are based in the Pankisi Gorge, Ahmet, Duisi and Dumasturi.
The rest are in Chechnya.
"The rebels think that living conditions in Georgia are much better than those in the Chechen highlands. Besides, they receive food and medical aid, which was initially intended for refugees, from international non-governmental organizations functioning in Georgia," Shabalkin said.
They may be functioning in Georgia, but theyâre based in Riyadh ... 
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