Chechen Night Drivers To Be Shot

A Curfew is being imposed, the defenses of military objects are being strengthened and the Federal Command is considering a change of tactics in the republic. Even though the military have called the latest terrorist attacks 'acts of despair’, the need to change tactics in order to counteract the rebels’ various acts of sabotage is a pressing issue. On Monday evening the Chief Military Commandant of Chechnya Ivan Babychev imposed a curfew in the republic. From now on local inhabitants are strictly forbidden to leave their homes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. The military may open fire without warning upon any non-military vehicle traveling during the curfew. They military are under orders to coordinate all their movements after 21.00 via radio communications and using passwords. On Monday night the orders were not carried out and no one opened fire upon moving vehicles. The reason is that the order was issued late in the afternoon, not giving enough time for all the republic’s inhabitants to be informed. Even though all the local TV stations are regularly repeating Babychev’s orders, it will take at least 2-3 days for the information to reach everyone. Unprecedented security measures were taken on Monday night. After 7 p.m. all traffic in Grozny and the villages in the foothills was practically brought to a halt. Additional armored vehicles and personnel were posted to the checkpoints. The staffs of the local police departments were ordered to stay in barracks and the defenses around buildings where Federal Forces are quartered have been reinforced. In Argun, Urus-Martan and other districts where the threat of terrorist attacks is particularly great, patrols are constantly stopping locals to question them and check their papers.