Large-scale mopping-up operations keep going in ChechnyaRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus – On Thursay at about 1 p.m. Russian forces sealed off all settlements in the Shali district, southeast of Grozny. New check-points were established around villages Mesker-Yurt, Germenchuk, Novye Atagi, Avtury and Serzhen-Yurt. Besides, federal soldiers blocked main roads leading to Shali.
The “special operation” in Shali is targetting particularly field commander Aslanbek Abdulkhadzhiev and his subordinates. A few days ago, it was possible to cross check-points in the district after paying a small bribe, but now the situation is completely different, which indicates that the “mopping-up operations” are really serious.
As a matter of fact, similar measures have been taken earlier as well. Those Chechens suspected of taking part in military activities were detained and some of them were released later after a “filtration procedure”. However, neither Aslanbek Abdulkhadzhiev nor his associates have been arrested so far.
Meanwhile, a similar “special operation” is going on in the settlement of Bachi-Yurt, 7 kilometres eastward of the district centre Kurchaloi. Federal forces have been searching for commander Khattab there for three days already. As Russian soldiers claim, Khattab was seen in Bachi-Yurt a few days ago, but this information has not been confirmed. Anyway, identification checks continue with nobody being allowed to leave the settlement.*
“Mopping-up” operations carry on in the mountainous areas of Chechnya and roads in the Argun and Vedeno gorges are blocked. As artillery and air force are deployed, there has been a series of bomb and missile attacks against forest and mountainous territories on the border between the Shatoi and Itum-Kalinski districts.
* Today Russian representatives informed that in the morning some Abu Sayakh, allegedly an aide to field commander Khattab, was detained in Bachi-Yurt. The detained person then died of wounds. Prague Watchdog.
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