From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 3/25/2006 6:30 AM Mar 25 2006 12:21PM No instances of Chechen police defecting - official
GROZNY. March 25 (Interfax) - The Chechen Interior Ministry has categorically denied reports by a number of media outlets alleging that dozens of local police officers have defected to illegal armed units.
"An analysis of these reports shows that certain media outlets inspired have in fact launched a provocative ideological campaign against Chechnya's law enforcement agencies," Chechen Interior Ministry press secretary Ruslan Atsayev told Interfax on Saturday.
"Not a single instance of treachery by Chechen law enforcement officers, not a single instance of defection to illegal armed groups has been recorded in the past year," Atsayev said.
During the past week a number of media outlets have published "fictional reports claiming that over forty armed policemen defected to militant groups in the Vedeno district," he said.
"We would like to know the names of these people, as the entire personnel of the Vedeno district police department are accounted for and are performing their duties," Atsayev said.
"Speculation that an operation in the mountains was designed to catch the deserters are also unfounded," he said.
"This operation is preventative in nature and is designed to uncover militant bases, hideouts and weapons caches an the operatives engaged in the operation are looking for Basayev, Umarov, Khalilov and other leaders of militant groups," Atsayev said. va la
Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at:
eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com