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“Zapad” battalion soldier wounded in June 20 Grozny shoot-out dies in hospital

By Ruslan Isayev

GROZNY, Chechnya - The death is reported from a Grozny hospital of a soldier who was wounded in the shoot-out  that took place between Chechen servicemen and police officers on June 20.  21-year-old Muslim Raisov received numerous gunshot wounds following a dispute between members of the “Zapad” battalion and officers of the Chechen OMON and road traffic police which turned into a gunfight.

On the day in question, an unmarked UAZ vehicle carrying intoxicated “Zapad” soldiers was stopped at a road traffic police checkpoint. On being asked to show their papers the soldiers responded with shouts and curses. A fight began, and both sides called in reinforcements. Six military jeeps filled with servicemen drove from the nearby base to support the “Zapad” troops. At the request of the road traffic policemen, a group of OMON officers also arrived on the scene.

During the arguments that ensued, someone opened fire. There was a fierce firefight, in the course of which four “Zapad” men were killed and two others wounded. Two OMON officers and a road traffic policeman also received wounds. Muslim Raisov, who died today, became the fifth victim of the conflict.

An inquiry into the incident was immediately begun, with the ostensible aim of identifying the culprits of the action. However, in all likelihood the case will be put “on ice”, as the “Zapad” battalion has rendered important services in the fight against the armed underground in Chechnya.

(D/T)

  RELATED ARTICLES:
 · Five die in shoot-out between soldiers and policemen in Grozny (PW, 20.6.2007)