Former Defense Minister of Ichkeria urges rebels to surrender

On April 2, former Defense Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Umar Khambiyev spoke on the Grozny television. He stated he had signed an order as the minister of defense on the disarmament and disbandment of the Ichkerian armed forces and called upon all the members of the Chechen armed resistance to lay down arms and surrender to the authorities. "All those who are not involved in grave crimes - murders, kidnappings, and terrorist acts - will be amnestied," Khambiyev said. "Chechen President Kadyrov personally guarantees safety to them."

Magomed Khambiyev was forced "to give himself up voluntarily" in early March 2004. Officers of security agencies under the command of Akhmad Kadyrov's son, Ramzan, took some 40 people related to Khambiyev (including women) hostages and threatened with their physical elimination in case of his refusal to surrender.

People in the republic has taken the order to disarm given by Khambiyev to the Chechen armed units pessimistically as, in their opinion, it will have no real force. "It's clear that Khambiyev gave this order under pressure and no rebel fighting in the mountains will execute it. It is just authorities' another propaganda trick. They should stop the war and carry on a political dialogue with the confronting party but not play various populist games," said Abubakar Isayev, a 57-year-old resident of Grozny.

Editors note: See also the article "Memorial: Magomed Khambiyev compelled to surrender by taking hostages".