12:54, 24 March 2004

3 thousand Russian soldiers to be withdrawn from Chechnya till end of April

The Russian military command plan to reduce the group of interior troops of the Russian Interior Ministry on the territory of the Chechen Republic by 3 thousand soldiers. The decision about it was made after the approval had been received from the Russian Interior Ministry and the republican leadership. The withdrawal of the 3-thousand-strong military contingent will not adversely affect the fighting efficiency of the Russian military group in Chechnya, a source at the republican military commandant's office said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent. "Excess elements of interior troops will be withdrawn to the places of their permanent disposition. They have already fulfilled their tasks. As far as the situation in Chechnya stabilizes, other military units will be withdrawn from the republic," said the officer of the commandant's office. The total strength of the Russian military group in Chechnya comes to over 70 thousand servicemen, according to some data.

Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot