FLOW OF ILLEGAL GUNS NOW GOING FROM CHECHNYA TO RUSSIA.

Gunssmuggled out of Chechnya have become an important part of theillegal arms market in Russia, Rossiiskie vesti reportedon July 19. The paper surveyed illegal arms markets throughoutthe country, noting that in Tyumen "one can buy any kindof gun one wants" and for relatively modest prices, an indicationof just how many illegal guns there are. The paper said that theRussian government has so far been afraid to arm Cossack unitswhich might be able to prevent the flood of weapons out of theCaucasus, and that the Russian secret services are concerned thatin many outlying areas of the country, the criminals now havemore firepower than do the police. Meanwhile, Moskovsky komsomoletsreported July 19 that the Moscow militia had arrested an unnamedwoman who had masterminded arms deals between Russian firms andthe Chechen fighters.