Chechen separatists today said they had killed 33 Russian soldiers in two days of heavy fighting, but Moscow promptly denied the claim.
Published:
17 January 2001 y., Wednesday
Chechen spokesman Movladi Dudgov said the Russian troops were killed in the southern Argun gorge, in the capital Grozny, and the town of Urus-Martan.
Dudgov also accused the Russian military of killing over 30 civilians yesterday during helicopter rocket attacks in the southern Vedeno gorge. The office of the Kremlin spokesman on Chechnya, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, denied both claims.
Meanwhile, Russian commanders in Chechnya told Interfax news agency that two Russian soldiers were killed during the last 24 hours.
The Russian government has said that almost 2,600 soldiers have died since its forces began their latest military campaign against Chechen separatists almost a year and a half year ago.
A delegation from the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe continues its tour of Chechnya today to check on the human rights situation there. ITAR-TASS says the delegation -- led by Lord Frank Judd -- is to visit federal troop headquarters in Khankala, Grozny, and a prison.
Yesterday, the delegation questioned Russian-appointed Chechen officials as to why there have been so few cases pursued on alleged massacres of civilians in Chechnya by Russian troops. Russia's top human rights envoy for Chechnya, Vladimir Kalamanov, promised more prosecutions.
The delegation also visited a cramped refugee camp in Znamenskoye, Chechnya. Judd heard complaints from the people about the deplorable conditions in which they live.
Šaltinis:
RFE/RL
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
On 27 August at the meeting of foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland (NB8) in Riga, head of Lithuania’s diplomacy called on the Nordic and Baltic States for greater integration.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė offered her congratulations to Mihai Ghimpu, Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament and Acting President of Moldova, on Independence Day.
more »
Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Ažubalis encouraged the ambassadors to take the initiative in searching for potential investors from the countries of their representation, and in inviting Lithuanian businesses to look for export opportunities and partners.
more »
At the annual convention of Lithuanian ambassadors, President Dalia Grybauskaitė gave an overview of this year's main foreign policy issues, discussed top priorities and defined foreign policy guidelines for the next year.
more »
On 24 August at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania’s and Germany’s Governments will conclude an agreement on mutual representation by diplomatic and consular missions in visa application procedures.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Polish President Bronisław Komorowski who is currently on vacation in Lithuania.
more »
Lithuania delegates Deputy Director of Lithuania’s National Police School professor Alvydas Šakočius to the Police Advisory Group of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Kyrgyzstan.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė expressed, on behalf of the people of Lithuania and herself, condolences to President Giorgio Napolitano of the Italian Republic on the death of President Francesco Cossiga.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė received letters of credence from Ambassador Igor Klipii of the Republic of Moldova.
more »
President Dalia Grybauskaitė extended condolences to President Hu Jintao over the tragic disaster in China's Gansu province - claiming more than one thousand innocent lives.
more »