Power agents expand search area for militant in Chechnya

The search for the suspected militant, who managed to escape after the armed clash with power agents, continues. The special operation is conducted in forests and villages of the Shali and Kurchaloi Districts and in the city of Argun, said a law enforcement source. He treated the actions of power agents, compared by local residents with "cleansings", as "targeted checks".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 11, during an armed clash in the village, four militants and two soldiers of the "Rosgvardiya" (Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation) were killed.

According to the source, the militant, who escaped, is a resident of the city of Shali, Imran by name.

Residents of Argun and Shali, and of the villages of the Kurchaloi and Shali Districts have complained about the harsh methods of the special operation.

"In Shali, Argun and Kurchaloi they detained dozens young men with beards," said an employee of one of public organizations, who lives in the Shali District.

"Power agents stop young men in the streets and check their mobile phones. Units of policemen and militaries are deployed on highways to inspect all the vehicles," said a resident of the republic named Magomed.

"I haven't seen such checks and 'cleansings' for some 15 years. They block villages and make house-by-house visits and searches," said a resident of the Kurchaloi District named Umar.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.