125 Rebels Surrender Weapons to Chechen Authorities

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 01, 2003

125 Rebels Surrender Weapons to Chechen Authorities

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A total of 125 Chechen rebels have surrendered weapons to authorities since the amnesty took effect in Russia's Chechen republic on June 6, Russia's military headquarters for the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus said Monday.

Col. Ilya Shabalkin, the spokesman for the headquarters, told Interfax that Russia's special services have also contacted over 200 guerillas through their relatives to compel them to lay down their arms.

The amnesty, which was initiated by President Vladimir Putin and approved by the parliament, aims to advance peace in the war-torn republic in Russia's Northern Caucasus.

The amnesty offers immunity from prosecution to rebels who give up their weapons by Sept. 1 and also applies to federal troops in Chechnya, who are suspected of abuses against civilians.

But the bill will not be granted to those who have committed grave crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape and assault, as well asforeigners and people without citizenship. Despite the amnesty, the clashes between Russian servicemen and Chechen rebels are continuing. Over the past 24 hours 14 rebels were killed in Chechnya.

In the meantime, four people, including two servicemen, a recently graduate student and a 50-year-old woman, were killed andother eight wounded as gunmen in masks opened fire on a crowd in the village of Starye Atagi, 20 kilometers south of the Chechen capital Grozny.

Eleven servicemen sustained injuries of various degrees as a landmine exploded in the village of Tsa-Vedeno in Chechnya's Vedeno region, Interfax reported, citing sources in the regional authorities.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Russia to Transfer Command of Military Operation in Chechnya to Interior Ministry

Putin Submits Bill to Parliament for Amnesty to Chechen Rebels

Russian Parliament Passes Amnesty Bill on Chechen Rebels

Guangdong's New Regulations on Punishing Party Cadres for Illegal Wildlife Eating ( 10 Messages)

Afterthought of A College Student Marrying without Permission ( 32 Messages)

From Economic Considerations to Happiness Pursuit
-A Survey of International Marriages in Shanghai ( 37 Messages)

Impending Personnel System Reform Rocks Peking University ( 5 Messages)

Volunteer Hotline for Homosexuals Emerges in China ( 2 Messages)

China Opposes US Report on Human Rights ( 7 Messages)