RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN PRISONER REUNITED

(20 Jan 1995) Russian/Nat

A Russian prisoner of war was reunited with his mother in Chechnya on Friday - in extraordinary circumstances.

The 19 year old was being held by the mother of a local Chechen commander.

She kept him safe until HIS mother travelled from Moscow to collect him.

APTV has this exclusive report.

The mother of the young Russian soldier arrived in Shali, 25 kilometres south of the Chechen capital Grozny, after spending weeks worrying about his fate.

Nina Patapov was welcomed by the mother of the Chechen commander who cared for her son before being finally reunited with him.

Three weeks ago young Vladimir Patapov, a tank mechanic conscript for the Russian army was on his way from Perto Pavlovsk to Mozdok when the tank driver took a wrong turn ending up among Chechens.

All on board the tank were killed except Vladimir who was wounded in the left leg.

The Chechens, under the command of Aslambek Abdulhadjiev, took him to hospital in Shali where his injury was treated as Russian artillery bombed the hospital.

Commander Abdulhadjiev then took the young conscript into his home, providing warmth and shelter he would otherwise have only dreamt about as a POW.

The commander's mother nurtured Vladimir through his recuperation so well that the young conscript has gained eight kilos in weight.

She warmed to Vladimir so much that she insisted her son not release the Russian teenager unless it is into the arms of his mother.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)

We release your son, he is free. We don't need him and if you want you can stay at my home. But I would like to save his life.
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Aslambek Abdulhadjiev.

If it were not for the commander's mother and her humanity , Vladimir would not have recovered so quickly.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)

I would like to declare through you to other mothers. Come to Grozny to collect the corpses from the streets.
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Aslambek Abdulhadjiev.

Vladimir and his mother thanked the commander and his family.

He's disillusioned about war and is unsure of his fate now he is free.

He fears he may be labelled a deserter if he returns home.

The parents of thirty other PoW's travelled to Shali Prison in the hope of finding their sons alive and well.

There were many emotional reunions.

They are among a growing number of Russian parents who have gone to Chechnya to try to liberate their sons from a war none of them can understand.

They have appealed to the world for help.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)

We want our government, our president and our minister for defence to be responsible for every child of ours. For everyone that is dead, everyone who is lying there, not buried. For mothers who are crying, not knowing when their children are coming back and maybe they never will come back. I want them to be responsible for every child and tell us when they will be here. No information is given to us.
SUPER CAPTION: Mother of Russian POW.

Many of the families who've gone to Chechnya have been unsuccessful in releasing their sons and will be trying to negotiate through the Red Cross.

Those who have found their sons have thanked their Chechen captors for keeping them alive.

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