On the Possible Special Training of Some Participants of the Acts of Terrorism in the US on the Chechnya Territory as Members of Gunmen's DetachmentsRussian security services do not rule out that two of the participants of the acts of terrorism in the United States - the brothers Navar and Salim El-hazimi - could have undergone special training and fought on the territory of Chechnya as members of gunmen's detachments.
"This cannot be ruled out, but to offer any documentary proof of the fact that they were in Chechnya is difficult, as practically all the mercenaries were transferred to Chechnya on forged documents," said an expert of the FSB, Russia's Federal Security Service.
That the natives of Saudi Arabia, brothers Navar and Salim El-hazimi, had fought on the Chechen separatists' side was reported the other day by a Saudi newspaper.
According to the FSB expert, two-thirds of the strength of illegal armed bands in Chechnya is now made up of mercenaries from Arab countries, Tajiks, Pushtuns, Turks, Albanians, and persons from other states.
The transfer of mercenaries to Chechnya was effected mainly via Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. One route: from Turkey the mercenaries went in buses to Georgia, to the Pankisi Gorge. From there guides led them to Chechnya through the mountain passes. The expert noted that the real name and nationality of foreign mercenaries are difficult to find out even after they have been killed in Chechnya. Practically they all go to battle either without documents or with forged ones.
The security services' official thinks data on foreign mercenaries in Chechnya may be obtained if recruiting centers abroad could be reached. In Chechnya Khattab and his retinue may be in possession of a part of information. Certain data on the mercenaries can also be obtained by a thorough study of intercepted video reports of gunmen from Chechnya to their "foreign sponsors."
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