–WOOING GELAEV

Akhmad Kadyrov is continuing to seek a negotiated settlement with rebel field commander Ruslan Gelaev (see Chechnya Weekly, September 12). Correspondent Olga Allenova of Kommersant happened to visit Kadyrov just as he was bidding farewell to a group of visitors who looked to her like rebel guerrillas. Her host confirmed, as she quoted him on October 6, that “these are Gelaev’s people. They want to legalize themselves and live in peace. We have been negotiating with them for a long time….They come to me and say, “We will provide for peaceful elections in the Urus-Martan and Achkhoi-Martan districts, we promise there will be no shooting there.” I told them, ‘Very well, we shall see. If you help me, I can help you.'”

–LITHUANIAN COURT RULES ON WEBSITE