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Russian military refuses to halt security sweeps in Chechnya
January 13, 2002
AFP

The Russian military refused a demand by human rights groups that it halt so-called "mopping-up operations" in Chechnya amid mounting evidence of abuses by federal troops during a recent 10-day security sweep.

Commander of Russian forces in the North Caucasus, General Vladimir Moltenskoi, told a meeting with Memorial and other Russian human rights groups that rebel activity made such measures indispensable, ITAR-TASS reported.

The human rights representatives had asked the military to stop security sweeps and blockades of towns and villages.

"At night the bandits lay mines on the roads, and unless we cut off localities, if a bandit group has entered somewhere, the special operation there will be useless," General Moltenskoi said as quoted by the news agency.

Russian federal forces this week wound up a sweep through Chechen towns, including Argun, saying they had killed 92 rebels.

Human rights organisations led by Memorial have detailed a wide array of abuses -- reports that Washington has deemed credible -- including arbitrary killings, beatings and hostage taking.

Russia has moved to take advantage of its alliance with the United States in the war on terrorism, branding the Chechen rebels terrorists.

Federal forces were sent into the breakaway republic on October 1, 1999 but have failed to take control of the territory, and though tentative contacts with the rebels were established last September, no sign of a peace process is in sight.