New war expected in Chechnya

Rumors have actively been circulating in Chechnya in the last few days that large-scale military action will soon start in the republic. Residents of the Chechen Republic are convinced that separatist units will very soon launch attacks on big cities and communities and a new stage of military action will start in the republic. Some dwellers of Chechnya's capital have already begun to remove their families and possessions to relatively quiet flat areas in the north of the republic.

"Rumors of the upcoming assault of gunmen on Grozny and the beginning of a new stage of war have been spreading actively lately. Having learnt some lessons from their bitter experience, people expect a new tide of violence, so they seek to secure at least their children, remove them to safety. As for me personally, I've sent my family to our relatives in the Naurskaia district (in the north of Chechnya). After the events in Ingushetia, it cannot be ruled out that gunmen may take control of Grozny and other communities in Chechnya," says Mukhamed-Emin Sambulatov, a Grozny resident. According to him, people's concerns as regards the possible resumption of large-scale military action in Chechnya rose dramatically after another curfew had been introduced in the republic. "This step, as many residents of the republic believe, manifests weakness of the Russian military. It shows it is afraid of gunmen's possible sorties and fears that. Therefore, tension has increased dramatically here. People no longer believe anyone or anything. They are expecting a new war," Mukhamed-Emin claims.

Law enforcement agencies of the Chechen Republic refused to give any comments on that matter. One officer of Chechnya's Ministry of Internal Affairs said only that "the situation in the republic is generally strained, but it is under full control."