RUSSIA STEPS UP CONTROL OF CHECHEN BORDER; INTERNAL TROOPS TO OPERATE ON CHECHEN TERRITORY.

Although Moscow continues to consider Chechnya Russian territory, the border between Chechnya and Russia proper is increasingly acquiring the attributes of an international frontier. Even the most minor roads out of Chechnya are guarded by reinforced military patrols, and Moscow plans to erect a barbed-wire fence along the entire border. Anatoly Shkirko, commander of Russia’s internal troops, told a press conference on March 11 that the number of border troops deployed along the frontier between Chechnya and the rest of Russia is being increased and that the internal troops have been given permission to conduct intelligence operations on Chechen territory. According to Shkirko, these measures are necessary to prevent Chechen criminals from entering Russia proper. (NTV, March 11)

Shkirko expressed concern about Salman Raduev’s threats to commit a terrorist act in a Russian city. Existing precautions are clearly inadequate. On March 11, Raduev was prevented by border guards from entering Kabardino-Balkaria. Where he was coming from has not been revealed, but Kabardino-Balkaria does not border on Chechnya. Raduev must have been coming from Stavropol krai or Karachaevo-Cherkessia and was therefore already on the territory of Russia proper. (Interfax, March 11) Why the guards did not arrest Raduev, organizer of the February 1996 Kizlyar and Pervomaiskoe hostage-taking incidents and one of Russia’s most wanted men, was not disclosed.

Duma Declares Limited Amnesty for Participants in Chechen War.