Bachi-Yurt sealed off again by Russian forces Ruslan Isayev, North Caucasus - The village of Bachi-Yurt in the Kurchaloyevski district has been sealed off again by Russian soldiers. They banned transport on all roads leading to the settlement, giving no reason for such measure. The operation is said to aim at tracking down a Chechen “guerrila” armed group, whose members were allegedly seen in the village.
The operation started three days ago when a column of military cars rolled in the direction of Bachi-Yurt. All in all, there were some 300 cars, including forty tanks and self-propelled artillery. Russian military headquarters’ representative said in a TV interview that fights erupted in the village leaving ten “guerrilas” killed. However, local residents deny the fact claiming ten people were detained.
Last large-scale “mopping-up” operation was conducted in Bachi-Yurt in the middle of December 2001. Russian generals commanding the operation said its aim was to kill or detain Emir Khattab, Arab field commander of the foreign forces in Chechnya, who had been allegedly seen in Bachi-Yurt. The operation brought no success.
The ongoing special operation, with a great number of soldiers as well as military vehicles being deployed, is in a sharp contrast with Russian senior commanders’ statements that such “mopping-up” operations will no longer be conducted in Chechnya. As the commanders said, strictly addressed measures and cooperation with local administrations and religious authorities involved should be employed.
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