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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Maskhadov to call it quits?
2004-10-23
My guess is, it'll be when he eats a bullet...
The senior law enforcement official in Chechnya announced Friday that the authorities had nearly captured Aslan Maskhadov, one of the best-known leaders of the Chechen resistance, and that Mr. Maskhadov was planning to surrender soon. The announcement, made by the first deputy prime minister, Ramzan Kadyrov, in Grozny, the Chechen capital, underscored the sense of urgency driving the hunts for senior separatists. It also exposed the tension among the Russian security agencies conducting them. Mr. Kadyrov, the outspoken leader of a paramilitary force that is publicly loyal to Moscow and composed principally of former Chechen rebels, was unequivocal, saying that Mr. Maskhadov had narrowly escaped a recent battle in the Nozhai Yurt district, and "is searching for ways to reach the federal center to hold talks on laying down arms. He will surrender to the authorities in the near future, or we will eliminate him."

The Kremlin has made the capture of insurgent leaders a priority in its effort to quell a guerrilla war that has spilled over Chechnya's border several times this year, including the attack last month at Middle School No. 1 in Beslan. Mr. Kadyrov, son of Akhmad Kadyrov, the Chechen president who was assassinated this spring, is young, unrestrained and violent, and often described as a wild card in Chechen affairs. Even as he spoke of imminent success, security agencies involved in the search distanced themselves from his remarks. Maj. Gen. Ilya Shabalkin, for counterterrorism forces in the North Caucasus, said he had no information that Mr. Maskhadov was contemplating surrender. "Let's talk about realistic topics," he said.

Sergei N. Ignatchenko, the senior spokesman for the Federal Security Service, the domestic successor to the K.G.B., was more circumspect but made clear the agency would not second Mr. Kadyrov's claim. "Kadyrov said this, and we don't comment on what he says," he said. "There can be no justification for terror against innocent citizens, and that acts like this prevent international recognition of the Chechen state," Mr. Maskhadov said, according to a statement posted on a rebel Web site that has been closely identified with him.
Posted by:Dan Darling

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