2500 RUSSIAN SERVICEMEN REFUSED TO FIGHT IN CHECHNYA.

2000men and 500 officers refused to obey orders to fight in Chechnya,the president of the Soldiers’ Mothers Committee told Russiantelevision July 6. Valentina Mel’nikova said that her organizationalso had information about some 700 Russian troops missing inChechnya but would not turn it over to the government unless herorganization was included in any fact-finding mission to the region.Another unofficial group, the Mercy Order, told Moscow’s Echoradio that its members had been the first Russians to go to thedestroyed Chechen village of Samashki and offer aid.

Chechen Fighting Seen Affecting Russian Parliamentary Vote.