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DATE=7/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251910
TITLE=CHECHNYA / BORDER CLASHES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ALREADY-TENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE BREAKAWAY 
REPUBLIC OF CHECHNYA ARE WORSENING WITH INCREASING REPORTS OF 
VIOLENT BORDER SKIRMISHES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT EVE CONANT IN 
MOSCOW REPORTS THAT CHECHEN OFFICIALS ARE THREATENING TO CLOSE 
DOWN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES IF RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DO NOT EXPLAIN 
WHY THEY ARRESTED A TOP CHECHEN OFFICIAL LAST WEEK.
TEXT:  CHECHEN GUNMEN FOUGHT WITH RUSSIAN SECURITY FORCES ALONG 
THE RUSSIAN-CHECHEN BORDER MONDAY, KILLING ONE RUSSIAN OFFICER 
AND WOUNDING FOUR OTHERS.
RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES REPORT THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE ATTACK, TWO 
RUSSIAN HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS STRUCK AT CHECHEN POSITIONS IN 
RETALIATION.
MONDAY'S SKIRMISH IS THE LATEST IN SERIES OF BORDER BATTLES 
DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS.
THE LATEST ATTACKS FOLLOW THE SURPRISE ARREST OF CHECHNYA'S 
SECURITY MINISTER, TURPAL-ALI ATGERIYEV, WHO WAS SEIZED BY 
RUSSIAN POLICE AT A MOSCOW AIRPORT LAST FRIDAY.
MR. ATGERIYEV WAS LATER RELEASED, BUT RUSSIAN OFFICIALS HAVE YET 
TO GIVE AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FOR THE DETENTION. 
                           /// OPT ///
THE RUSSIAN MEDIA REPORTS THE CHECHEN SECURITY MINISTER WAS 
WANTED FOR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A HOSTAGE-TAKING RAID DURING 
THE CHECHEN WAR.
                         /// END OPT ///
CHECHNYA'S CHIEF REPRESENTATIVE IN RUSSIA, MAIRBEK VACHAGAEV, 
SAYS CHECHNYA IS CLOSING ITS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES IN RUSSIA TO 
PROTEST THE ARREST.
     /// ACT VACHAGAEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
HE SAYS, ALL LOCAL OFFICES WILL BE ORDERED TO CLOSE WITHIN 72 
HOURS AND MAY EVEN SHUT DOWN WITHIN 24 HOURS.
MR. VACHAGAEV SAYS THE MOSCOW OFFICE WILL ALSO BE CLOSED IN THE 
NEXT 24 HOURS UNLESS RUSSIA GIVES AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION FOR THE
ARREST AND GUARANTEES THE SECURITY OF CHECHEN OFFICIALS IN 
RUSSIA.
                        ///REST IS OPT///
CHECHEN OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE ARREST AS A PROVOCATION, AIMED AT 
PREVENTING A LONG-AWAITED MEETING BETWEEN CHECHEN PRESIDENT ASLAN
MASKHADOV AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE
19-Jul-99 9:05 AM EDT (1305 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.