03.02.2000 15:00 ON THE PROGRESS OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATION IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
SERGEI V. YASTERZHEMBSKY - Acting RF President assistant on informational-analytical work of federal executive organs engaged in the conducting of an anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Let's begin with the situation in Grozny, where the storm units and the federal forces are completing the liquidation of the remaining resistance sites, of which there are still quite a few. As of now, over 50% of Grozny is firmly held by the federal forces. Although in principle, we never set the task of occupying as much territory as possible during the military operation. It would not be correct to say this. The point at issue was to split the city into sectors and suppress resistance in each of them. We are completing this work now, although there will be stubborn fighting yet for individual buildings. Many buildings have been mined. The military think there are kamikaze sharpshooters in some buildings, who have the task of fighting to the bitter end, doing as much damage to the storm units as possible. We came across the fiercest resistance in the neighbourhoods west of Minutka Square and in the Zavodskoi district.
The bandit chieftains also tried to lead small groups of fighters from Grozny in the past day, but their attempts were foiled. They were moving above all towards the settlement of Gikalovsky in Chernorechye and Alkhan-Yurt in the Zavodskoi district. In the past day the storm units fully liberated a neighbourhood in the Oktyabrsky district and reached Lenin Street. They liberated the southwestern part of the Leninsky district and reached the Sunzha, where they blockaded the bridge linking central Grozny with the suburbs. The northern part of the Central district was liberated and the federal forces reached Mayakovsky Street. And lastly, the settlement of Podgorny in the Zavoidskoi district is now fully controlled by the federal forces.
The joint federal forces continued to liquidate the bandits encircled outside Alkhan-Kala. About 100 bandits were killed and 129 taken prisoner, many of them wounded. The mass media provided a variety of versions, wondering if the bandits broke through or it was a planned operation of the federal command. I can tell you that it was a result of a carefully planned and brilliantly carried out operation. Preparations for it began two or three weeks ago and included attacks in the northern, western and eastern directions, designed to force the bandits from these zones and into the only area that was not under fire - the Zavodskoi district. It was left alone on purpose and mined, with the purpose of forcing the bandits to leave from the city by this route. Following the fire raids on January 28 through 30, the terrorists attempted to break out of Grozny in precisely this area. Those who managed to escape, above all by the Sunzha River to Alkhan-Kala, and those who had reached the settlement before, were encircled.
I have reported to you about the results of the latest operation to liquidate that group. It is not true that the bandits broke through to Alkhan-Kala from the southern regions, the foothills outside Grozny, in order to ensure the retreat of the Grozny defenders from the city. Indeed, attempts were made to push through to Alkhan-Kala, but we reacted promptly and liquidated these bandits. We found a large group of some 50 cars in the settlement of Zakan-Yurt, which were brought there for the evacuation of the bandits who would escape from Grozny. We used artillery to destroy these vehicles. We are completing the mopping up of Alkhan-Kala now, finding a considerable amount of hidden weapons and wounded. We also found several dozen dead bandits, whom their comrades did not have the time to bury. Besides, individual bandits could take cover in the home of peaceful civilians, and hence we will need more time to carefully mop up this settlement.
The Interior Ministry has stepped up operational-investigation actions and special operations. In the past day, special functions held in 22 settlements led to the detainment of 140 people (including seven suspected bandits and one man who had been on the wanted list), the confiscation of 11 firearms and over 300 different-calibre munitions, as well as explosive devices.
The ministry units continue to liquidate jury-rigged devices for the production of fuel and lubricants and to pick local candidates for work in the law-enforcement agencies. As of today, over 3,000 applied for jobs, but only 789 of them were given jobs, while some 800 were turned down.
As more neighbourhoods are liberated in Grozny, more civilians are leaving the ruined city. In the past day, 221 persons, including 16 children, left it.
I have just been brought documentary proof of the restoration of normal life in some regions of Chechnya. We launched preparations for the forthcoming presidential elections wherever possible. I have here 3,000 signatures in support of the nomination of Vladimir Putin. Why did I bring them here? Above all because these signatures were collected in Vedeno. I think those who have long been covering the situation in Chechnya know that this is a special settlement, the headquarters of Basayev. These 3,000 signatures will be handed over to the Central Electoral Commission.
A few words about the forthcoming visits to the North Caucasus. The accreditation process has begun. I will enumerate now the format of the first two groups of journalists, who will go to the North Caucasus. The group leaving on February 7 includes journalists from the radio and television of Slovenia, the Canadian TV, the US ABC and Time, the French TF1, and Russia's Ogonyok. The February 8 group includes representatives of the US APTN, the German ZDF, the British Reuters, the German Rufa, Japanese Kyodo Tsushin, and Russian newspaper Vek. Those whom I enumerated here will be the first to get new accreditation documents, which will be valid for six months. They are uniform and recognised by all ministries and departments responsible for different tasks in the North Caucasus and the Chechen Republic. However, certain limits will be set for the free movement around Chechnya, as we told the US Secretary of State yesterday. We hope that we will satisfy at least the bulk of requests this month, because there are very many requests indeed. Please provide the necessary documents as soon as possible. And the Russian media should pay special attention to insurance. The absence of insurance will not prevent you from working there, as there are many accredited Russian mass media in the region. We hope that information about the insurance of individual journalists will be provided to us on a routine basis, and we will issue new accreditation documents only to those who have drawn insurance polices. The duration and size of insurance is the responsibility of the mass media.
KYODO: How many fighters are there in Grozny now? And how many have left it? It is said that most fighters have escaped from Grozny. Is fighting still going on in Alkhan-Kala or not?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: According to latest reports, there is no fighting as such; the federal forces are mopping up the settlement. Of course, individual shots may be fired, but the battle is over. The bandits sustained major losses in the past day. I understand that it is very difficult for the military to calculate how many dead bandits are lying in the minefields, because taking them out is a far from safe business. The main task now is to complete the liberation of Grozny; we can calculate the number of liquidated bandits later. It is clear that the reports about an alleged successful thrust of a large group of bandits towards Alkhan-Kala is a part of information warfare waged by Mr. Udugov, a part of misinformation used to keep up the fighting spirit of the bandit groups.
FINNISH TV: What do you know about Andrei Babitsky?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: As of 3:15 p.m., Andrei Babitsky was exchanged for two federal servicemen at a crossroads of the highway linking Argun and Shali. I understand that this is a surprise for you. It was a surprise for us, too. I have a copy of the statements, but we hope to get originals soon. These are the statements by Andrei Babitsky and by field commander Saeed Usakhodjayev. I have one more statement from the group that had been commanded by Israpilov, offering us to exchange Babitsky for Russian prisoners. Andrei Babitsky agreed to do this and as I was informed shortly before this briefing, the exchange has taken place. The Chechens gave us three servicemen, Zavarzin, Dmitriyev and Vasilyev, for Babitsky.
QUESTION: At which crossroads?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: One of the crossroads on the Argun - Shali highway.
QUESTION: Does this mean that he is now in the group of Saeed Usakkhodjayev? And that the federal authorities no longer bear responsibility for his life?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: If the fighters hold him, the responsibility for his life is rests with those who had exchanged him for the Russian servicemen.
QUESTION: Whose initiative it was?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: The Chechen fighters suggested the exchange. I have here a statement that was faxed to me. It is written in terrible Russian. Translated into proper Russian, it says that this field commander makes our military an offer to release their friend, journalist Babitsky, who had stood side by side with them, protecting the interests of the Chechen people. It says that the arrest of Babitsky was an outrageous injustice. I am prepared to exchange Andrei for Russian servicemen, it says. I ask you to create human conditions for Andrei in prison and guarantee the same attitude to your servicemen. You can give your answer through the man who delivered this address to you. And here is Babitsky's statement: "Wishing to help the commission on the liberation of forcefully kept servicemen, I hereby agree to my exchange for Russian servicemen with the mediation of Chechen field commander Turpal Ali Atgeriyev. I want to stress that my decision was prompted exclusively by a desire to help liberate servicemen. Aware of the humanitarian nature of the commission, I hereby pledge not to take any actions that would damage its reputation. I am convinced that Turpal Ali would not take such actions either and that he is guided in his actions by humanitarian considerations. January 31". The former statement was dated January 30.
QUESTION: It was said that a lawyer would be allowed to visit Babitsky. Was his statement certified by his lawyer?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I have no information that a lawyer was present on that occurrence. I have said that every necessary condition would be created for him. But whether or not a lawyer was present at that time I do not know.
QUESTION: What consequences may follow from this exchange for Babitsky?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I would find it difficult to give an off-hand answer just now to your question. But at least what has happened raises very many questions.
QUESTION: Babitsky was informed that he is released on the condition that he does not leave Moscow. Is he?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Who told you that he has been released?
THE SAME VOICE: NTV reported yesterday.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Is NTV an official source of information?
THE SAME VOICE: But it cited Interfax, Kremlin sources.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I did not have such information. I think it was incorrect information.
QUESTION: There has been no information about hostages for a long time. I have read that nearly 300 hostages died in Grozny. As a matter of fact, how many hostages are there now, according to your information? And how many died at all? Perhaps they were taken away into the mountains? And in general, what is the fate, so to speak, of these people, including foreign nationals?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Our figures still put the number of hostages at more than 250. There is word that militants are trying to take some hostages with them into the mountains. Militants also hold hostages from among foreign nationals. Nationals of Poland and a national of France, if my memory serves me right. Of course, no one will give you exhaustive information on the fate of all hostages, including on casualties among them. This is a different story and I do not think that we will get full answers in the near future.
BBC: How was it decided whom to put on the lists of accredited journalists? And do you realise that if a company is excluded from these lists, it will be compelled to work in that region in a different way? It is more difficult for you and more perilous for us.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Absolutely right. If we do not co-operate with each other, such situations as the one with The Times correspondent yesterday may crop up. Fortunately, everything turned out yesterday for the best. I got thanks from the office today and was pleased. We have not struck off anyone from the lists. On the contrary we are now including on the lists the first media, which got ahead of others with their applications. We draw no distinctions between, say, leading world agencies and those that are only aspiring to be such. In this case the principle we proceeded from was: first, those latest lists handed over to us by the Russian Information Centre, those who were given a firm promise they will go to Mozdok. We are fulfilling this promise of the Russian Information Centre so as not to antagonise our media colleagues. And we also added a second group from among those who were among the quickest to send in their requests. If you want to leave for Mozdok on our accreditation cards, we are ready to do this as soon as possible, and you will be able to work in Mozdok on the strength of these cards. A further chance is to work at Khankala, you will be among the first get to Khankala.
BBC: How do you explain that we had an accreditation and now we don't? That is to say, we were already accredited at Mozdok.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: Quite right. But I said long ago that the accreditation system does not suit us at all. It does not suit you and your colleagues in the first place, who right from the outset started telling me about all the imperfections of the system - painstaking coordination and so on. A bit of patience. It is impossible to decide within two weeks the questions that had to be tackled half a year ago.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: We were told by RIC and your staff that we were down for the 5th. But nothing came on the 5th, nor do we make the 7th and the 8th. I do not understand why we cannot even take our documents to anyone. And the result is that people are already accredited.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I know Los Angeles Times has a long history of grievances. I repeat, especially for the print media, that you can leave for and work in Mozdok outside these groups. Our staff of press services whose number there is growing will give you whatever help they can. But I repeat: these two groups were put together above all from the lists we received from the RIC and those who first submitted the documents. If you are willing enough to fly there on you own, we will give you this accreditation among the first. I am perfectly aware of your impatience, but understand that we have limited scope. There is no transport at all. It was only now that on our insistence three mini-buses were bought for the press service. Any moment now they must arrive there. I think this should have been done six months ago. It is only now that the interim press centre has got premises in Mozdok and a permanent telephone with a Moscow number. Nothing existed before. It is only now that we have a roof over our heads at Khankala. All this was done within two weeks. Take a detached view of what is now changing, and give us several days more to have all the matters bedded down. I plead for your understanding of our position, as humans do, when a staff of 14 are deciding non-stop things that needed to have been solved a very long time ago.
CBS NEWS: When is the next group planned, after 7 and 8?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: We are planning to send a group each week. About 12 members roughly. This is no random figure, it is the optimum make-up, because an ordinary helicopter accommodates approximately 12 journalists, plus an escort. In a week's time there will be another group. But everyone that gets these accreditation cards is able at once to fly to and work in Mozdok on their own. In Mozdok it is possible to work, but on the territory of the Chechen Republic we will recommend you to appear only guided by the press service.
FRANCE PRESSE: About Babitsky. He can't spend all his life in Chechnya, can he? There will be a time when he returns to Moscow. Will he be arrested? And what will be his further fate in general?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I do not know, it is a difficult question. What has happened raises too many queries. And these queries must evidently be answered by competent authorities. This is indeed a difficult matter, because a human life is involved. As I see it, judging from this letter, his choice was voluntary, guided by certain principles. But why this suggestion came from warlords concerning Babitsky calls for much effort to see what's what.
QUESTION: You said yesterday that lists of the Islamic Regiment have been seized. Do they and other documents available to the army show how many Taleban members are there.
YASTRZHEMBSKY: About the Taleban movement I have no concrete information. But today we recommended the grouping's leadership to show as many passports, notebooks and certificates as possible to mass media people to make the picture complete to the utmost. I cannot but recall here the information that in camps financed by Bin Laden in Khosta instructors are training a large group of militants that arrived from Chechnya to carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the Russian Federation.
QUESTION: Now following these scandals with Babitsky and The Times correspondent, could you please explain the concept of your information policy?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: I do not regard these incidents a scandal, such things happen every so often during hostilities. Kosovo is a case in point. They need not be treated as scandals. As for the Babitsky situation, it is indeed getting scandalous. As to what happened to The Times yesterday, I think the problem was the lack of accreditation. We give warning: those who are going to work without accreditation will have problems. There are hard and fast rules enforced by the armed forces, by the Defence Ministry and the Interior Ministry. There is a certain pattern of things. If you want to work at minimum risk and in a most favourable climate, we will afford you that. But whoever takes risks should remember that their mission may be interrupted. The Times correspondent was detained - in fact not even detained -- invited into the car of the commander, sent to Khankala, given a meal, had his clothes dried and ferried by helicopter to Mozdok. Is that a scandal? There is always a contradiction of interests. One should seek and find a compromise way out of these contradictions. The more possibilities we have, the fewer gripes you will have against us. Believe me, I am daily battling for more possibilities for you.
QUESTION: A follow-up to TV-6's question. You say you do not know if there are any Taleban members. And members of other countries and nationalities?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: You have a queer way of listening and then interpreting what you hear. I did not say there are no Taleban members. I said I have got no documents proving that any Taleban were present in Grozny in this particular case.
THE SAME VOICE: And members of other states and nationalities? Can it be said that these militants are cut off from any outside help?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: What militants? Those who are inside Grozny? Yes, this can be said firmly and decidedly. For those who are in Chechnya's mountains - of course, after the Russian-Georgian border was put under control - the situation is certainly worse, because our troops cut off all main routes for contraband of ammunition, medical supplies and for taking out the wounded from the territory of the Chechen Republic. But no one can guarantee that absolutely all trails leading into Chechnya from neighbouring regions are sealed off, and that federal forces have all the territory of the Chechen Republic "under a microscope". That, I think, would be a wrong thing to say.
PORTUGAL'S NEWSPAPER LITICIA: Is there confirmation that Basayev is in Alkhan-Kala?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: No, there is no such confirmation, but there is increasing evidence that he did hit a mine and that he had an operation performed on him and a leg amputated. But I repeat I still cannot say ultimately that this is an established fact. I am saying there is a growing body of evidence from different sources. The more such sources, the greater the confidence that this did indeed happen. But I am not yet putting a full stop to whole this episode.
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