Chechen MoI reports 19 militants and nine militiamen killed during one month

19 militants have been killed and 27 of their bases annihilated in Chechnya during one month. The losses of the power authorities amount to nine persons. These data have been cited by Colonel Roman Edilov, the republic's acting Minister of Interior.

"During the period from April 20 to May 20, 19 members of illegal armed formations have been killed, 26 arrested, 33 persons have been found accomplices of the IAFs, 26 proved to be involved in committing various crimes, 11 persons persuaded to give themselves up. All in all, 15 machine guns, 17 pistols, 12 grenade launchers and approximately eight thousand pieces of ammunition have been confiscated",  reported Edilov at the May 23 meeting in Grozny attended by the republic's leadership, heads of district administrations and representatives of law enforcement agencies.

"Unfortunately, there are losses among militiamen, too. Nine militiamen have been killed, including two who became victims of explosion in Grozny on May 15. During the last month, 12 militiamen have been inflicted various wounds", stated Edilov.

One more person has been included into the list of victims of special operations by power authorities in Chechnya today. A Chechen militiaman has been blown up by a trip-wire mine in the Urus-Martan district forest. This has been reported to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by a source at the republic's law enforcement agencies.

According to the "Caucasian Knot" statistics collected on the basis of calculating individual cases of terrorist acts and attacks, at least 88 special operations and skirmishes and three terrorist acts have been registered in Chechnya from January to March 2009. At least four law enforcement officers have been killed and 12 wounded, and minimum seven suspected militants have been killed as a result. Five civilians have been killed and three wounded during the same period.