Caucasus Times 25 July 2003

Russian forces sweep up Alkhazurovo village in Chechnya

In July 24, Russian servicemen conducted another sweeps in Alkhazurovo village of Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya.

According to locals the village was tightly blocked by servicemen and armored equipment to prevent anyone in or out the village.

The sweep resulted in 12 local man detained. The inhabitants reported of abuses and rudeness of Russian soldiers during the operation. "They burst into the houses, terrorizing children and women, yelling and cussing. The checked my passport and demanded to hand in my weapons," told Solsbek Aliyev, a 57-year-old local man. "How should I have it? I worked all my life and didn't ever have it."

When the administrator of the village asked the servicemen to explain why they had detained the villagers he was beaten up severely. An eyewitness told that the soldiers threatened to kill him as a "supporter of militants" and promised to raze the "bandits' village" to the ground.

It is not yet clear, which Russian military unit conducted the 'sweep'. The military commandant's headquarters officers refused to disclose any details just saying "there were several suspects detained during the 'special task operation' in Alkhazurovo."

Ruslan Zhadayev, Chechnya Caucasus Times



Home
Up