02.02.2000 15:00 ON SITUATION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
SERGEI V. YASTRZHEMBSKY - RF Acting President Assistant for co-ordination of information-analytical work of the federal executive authorities, taking part in counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus
YASTRZHEMBSKY: In Grozny within the past 24 hours sub-units, operating in the Oktyabrsky district, have taken full control of Gudermes street, which connects Minutka square and Prigorodnaya square. In the Leninsky district storm-troops have expanded their control zone by having completely blocked the northern outskirts of the Novaya Sunja district. In the Staropromyslovsky district federal sub-units have captured a cinema building and a former recreation park, by thus having blocked the north-western outskirts of the central part of the city. Intensive advance of the storm-troops can be noted in the last 24 hours. According to the military, the enemy is showing at the moment only individual resistance in the Novaya Sunja district, in the vicinity of the canning factory and in some parts of the Staropromyslovsky district.
In the military's opinion, moral and psychological state of the surrounded militants is extremely poor at the moment. There have been attempts to escape Grozny for the past 2 days. Bandits, first of all field commanders and their inner circle, in separate groups of no more than 10-15 people, have attempted to break the encirclement at night. Both attempts failed and there is still a great number of militants' corpses left on the minefields, which can't be reached at the moment. Bandits from the special- task squad Almaz, which had been created in its time for guarding of Basayev, have also attempted to break out of the encirclement. There are corresponding documents, proving that some of these people died while trying to escape.
The federal storm-troops got hold of practically all the documentation of the so-called Islamic regiment, its full muster-roll, great number of identity cards, first of all those of mercenaries. Among these there are identity cards of people who come from some CIS countries, for example Azerbaijan, as well as from some Arab states. At my instance these documents should be presented to mass media, first of all to the television crews, working in Khankala now.
Activities of the militants in the mountains have been slightly reduced for the time being. At the same time federal forces continue to build up their grouping at the foothills and parts, controlled by paratroopers.
As far as the Interior Ministry goes. Of the 125 settlements, situated on the territory, controlled by federal forces, 115 have been fully liberated by now. 4 settlements - Grozny, Argun, Starye Atagi and Oktyabrskoye - have been blocked and are being checked-up now. For the past 24 hours during auxiliary military missions, MILITIA and interior forces have detained 140 people, 7 of which - on suspicion of participating in bandit formations, 1 of them turned out to have been put on the wanted list earlier, at this 5 units of fire-arms, more than 500 articles of ammunition and 14 explosive devices have been seized.
Operations staff and members of the special-task department of the Justice Ministry have set free from captivity and handed over to the military command of the Mozdok region serviceman of the Russian Defence Ministry private Sergei N. Fyodorov.
According to the Emergency Situations Ministry, civilians have continued to leave Grozny, in the past 24 hours 126 people, including 5 children, have come out of the city.
As far as reconstruction of the economy and informational structure of the Chechen Republic goes. ORT and RTR have resumed their broadcasting in Urus-Martan. It broadens our opportunities to provide the population of Urus-Martan - a very important settlement - with adequate information about what is going on there. In some settlements repairs of granaries have been completed, repairs of a gas-distribution station and a macaroni factory have begun. In other words, work on reconstruction of economic objects and other objects, important for life support, is being carried out.
I'd like to comment on some publications in mass media these days regarding the Acting President's Decree on military periodical training. There are some publications of unjustified alarming character. The thing is that such decrees (I know it well from my previous work) are issued annually. Since 1991 this sort of periodical training hasn't been conducted in full due to underfinancing. This year, first time in 10 years, this periodical training will be carried out in full. The state, thanks to additional sources of finance, has allotted certain funds. As for the information that some of the men, called up for the periodical training, will go to Chechnya it is absolutely inaccurate.
I'd also like to respond to the statement of the Russian Federation Ombudsman of Human Rights Mr Mironov, who made an official statement, in which he subjected Russian federal authorities to criticism for their persecution of journalists in Russia because of the professional activities of the latter. Detention of a correspondent from Radio Liberty station is given as proof of it. Mr Mironov qualified this incident as direct violation of articles of the European Convention on the right to physical inviolability, freedom from unauthorised arrest and detention, encroachment on freedom of the press, that are guaranteed by the related article of the Constitution. We believe that none of the characteristics of the incident with Andrei Babitsky conforms to the claims, put forward by Mr Mironov. Burst of activity of our human rights specialist, aimed at revealing the crimes, committed by the Chechen regime against people on the territory of the republic, would be much more fruitful and useful first of all for Russian society, as well as the world public opinion.
AN EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPER: Is there any information on the mass going out of militants, which you denied yesterday, and is there any news as to the fate of General Shpigun? Does Moscow intend not to recognise Maskhadov and to appoint authorised governmental organs in Chechnya?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: As for General Shpigun, unfortunately, I don't have any additional and, what is more important, encouraging information at the moment. As far as the reports on the alleged breaking out of the Grozny encirclement go, I've just refuted this statement once again, the military did the same on their part. Such breaking out of so many people from the surrounded city on any direction isn't possible in principle.
As to the third question, it is the most serious one as it's useless now to make any forecasts, trying to anticipate the development of the situation with re-establishing of the legal and administrative institutions on the territory of the Chechen Republic. It's clear that people, who aim at active cooperation with the federal centre, at extermination of bandit formations of terrorists and their accomplices, at adjusting life in the Chechen Republic to the rules by which the rest of the country lives, will be recruited for this work. I think this question will be gaining urgency as the military part of the counter-terrorist operation will be coming to an end.
THE FIRST GERMAN TELEVISION: You were present at the meeting of Mr. Putin and Albright. Please tell us how long the Chechnya matter had been discussed. What was the atmosphere of the discussion? And can you say that Mrs. Albright has somehow changed her attitude towards Chechnya?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: As to the last part of your question I believe it would be more proper to forward it to the American side - either directly to Mrs. Albright or the State Department spokesman for relations with mass media Mr. Rubin. Present situation with fighting terrorism on an international scale has been discussed globally, mind that Russia and the USA consider this fight to be one of the most important mutual priorities of the contemporary agenda. This situation has also been discussed in a more detailed way, with reference to Chechnya. I believe that today Mrs. Albright has been provided with a lot of additional information, which, most likely, she hadn't had before. I got the impression that this discussion was useful for both parties and it was extremely frank and highly informative.
GERMAN TV ZDF: Please tell us, according to the estimate of the military, how many militants are still there in Grozny? And how can you comment on the reports regarding Alkhan-Kala, those of a large accumulation of the militants there and their alleged breaking through?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: As to Alkhan-Kala, I already told you about it yesterday. Indeed, a numerous group of bandits, not less than 100 people, has been blocked in that area. Planned check-up of the blocked territory is being carried out. And in case the surrounded militants refuse to surrender, they will be annihilated. As far as the first question goes, according to the military, first of all there are very many wounded bandits in the resistance centres that remain in Grozny. The military believe there are maximum 1000-1500 of them.
VOICE OF RUSSIA: At one of your press conferences you said that a hostage, who had witnessed execution of the Englishmen and the New Zealander, was rescued. Is he testifying?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Yes, he is testifying, law enforcement agencies are working with him. I don't have more detailed information, but I inquired about it. If we have some evidence, we will, of course, use it. It's very important.
A FINISH NEWSPAPER: How many civilians do still remain in Grozny and what is their condition? What are the casualties?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: It is a difficult question. It's difficult as no one has an answer to it now. It's difficult, as in order to answer it impartially we should suppress the last resistance centres in Grozny, enable people to leave basements, where they are mainly hiding. Only then can we carry out population census and find out, among other things, as to the need of civilians in medicines, food and so on. Now there is nobody who can do it, first of all because military activities are going on.
Besides, there is another serious danger, to which the advancing storm-troops are being constantly exposed - it is a large number of high-explosive shells, left in various parts of the city, as well as different sorts of "surprises" - traps, mini minefields - laid about the city by bandits. They represent a danger not only to the military, but to civilians as well. Of course, after people had stayed at the basements over a long period of time and had been devoid of many necessary things, we can't speak of the normal condition of civilians.
KUWAITI NEWS AGENCY: Federal troops have been reported to control almost 50% of the Grozny territory. Do federal troops render humanitarian and medical assistance to the civilians who live in these districts?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: First of all this assistance is rendered by specialists from the Emergency Situations Ministry - it is they who shoulder the main burden of rendering first aid to those who leave Grozny. Troops and storm-squads are assigned a different task.
RADIO LIBERTY STATION: There is a version that militia forces, led by Beslan Gantamirov, act as guides without taking an active part in combat activities. Although in TV reports they often appear fighting. Which is more truthful? You witnessed the meeting of Mr. Putin and Mrs. Albright - did they touch upon Babitsky's matter?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: During almost three hours' conversation the Babitsky's matter hasn't been mentioned at all. As far as I know, the Command of the United Grouping has no claims against Gantamirov's militiamen.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two days ago we saw shots taken in Minutka square, yesterday there were reports from Grozny. When we, foreign correspondents, will also have an opportunity to get to Grozny?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Firstly, there are some foreign correspondents there. As far as I know, CNN is working there. As to the rest of you. I understand your impatience. This impatience is the main factor we reckon. The first group is flying there on February 7. We expect the second group to fly there, perhaps on February 8 by another aircraft. And we'll enable you, of course with your new accreditations, to get to Mozdok through Vladikavkaz and Makhachkala on your own. But we'll necessarily ask you to show up at the location of the temporary United press centre in Mozdok, so that your stay could be guided and accompanied by employees of the United press centre, it will make your work easier. We'll inform you on Thursday at the latest, which of you will go with the first or with the second group.
FRANCE PRESSE AGENCY: Could you confirm today information on Basayev's wounding?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I can only confirm a great number of rumours in this respect. Appearing of so numerous rumours suggests in itself an idea of their deliberate spreading in order to distract attention of federal forces, to unnerve law enforcement agencies. In order to put off the scent law enforcers and the military who aim at seizing Basayev. Besides, we know that Basayev had his doubles at different periods of time - we should bear it in mind as well.
QUESTION: Is there any information as to Gantamirov's conducting talks with leaders of militants in Khankala?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Do you mean the militants, blocked in Khankala? I don't know who exactly is holding talks now, but bandits have been made an offer to surrender. I believe it's not really important who has made this offer, the main thing is that they stand a chance of going out to the federal forces, arms in hand, and end the resistance.
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