Ivanov announced a large-scale punitive operation


Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov announced that the invaders' formations in Chechnya are starting a new large-scale punitive operation against peaceful civilians.

«Troops in Chechnya have started a tough residential special operation in all districts of the republic to nip the threats in the bud», - as Interfax news agency quoted Ivanov.

«In the past few days we have received more and more information that on the territory of Chechnya, and not only there, guerrilla fighters are preparing to carry out new acts of terror. Suicide attackers are being recruited in some villages», he said.

Besides that, Sergei Ivanov announced that the process of downsizing of the group of Russian invaders on the territory of Chechnya has now been halted, which according to some observers never started anyway.

Russians admitted loss of another helicopter in Jokhar

As it was reported by the invaders' command, on Sunday at around 17:00 (5:00 PM) Moscow Time another MI-8 helicopter was shot down in Chechnya. As deputy commander of the invaders' group Boris Podoprigora admitted, nine soldiers and officers on board the helicopter were killed.

Deputy Commander said that the MI-8 helicopter was shot down by the rebels with portable anti-aircraft rocket launchers and «the rocket was launched from the destroyed five-story building on the outskirts of the capital».

Berezovsky will help defend Zakayev

Foundation of Civil Liberties, founded by Boris Berezovsky, is going to assume all the expenses for Akhmed Zakayev's defense. As entrepreneur Berezovsky himself told «Ekho Moskvy» (Echo of Moscow) radio station, the head of the Foundation Alik Goldfarb made a «positive decision» on that issue.

According to Berezovsky, «a number of well-known attorneys from Holland and England have been hired, i.e. the team has been created, which will be working on this case in Denmark». No defense in Russia is required so far, - Berezovsky added, and then he mentioned that he is sure that Zakayev is innocent.

«I know what is going on around me, how all these cases are fabricated», - Berezovsky said. - «I am sure that Zakayev's case has been fabricated too. And it's not only me, Minister of Justice of Denmark made a statement that the materials that came from Russia 'are insufficient for Zakayev's extradition'».

Kavkaz-Center News