RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: PRISONERS RELEASED

(3 Dec 1994) Russian/Nat

Claims by Russia that it's not involved in the conflict in the breakaway republic of Chechnya were thrown into doubt today (Friday).

Russian deputies sent to Chechnya to negotiate the release of prisoners, are accusing their own government of sending in warplanes.

APTV today spoke to the prisoners who say they were sent to Chechnya by Russian counter intelligence.

70 Russians, including Army soldiers and officers, are being held prisoner in Chechnya.
The Russian defence minister has described them as mercenaries, but they say they were sent in by the government.

SOUNDBITE:

Our government, that is, the Ministry of Defence, sent us to our deaths.
SUPER CAPTION: Russian Prisoner of War

Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev first threatened to kill the prisoners if Russia did not claim them, but later said they would be tried in court.

SOUNDBITE:

As soon as we became prisoners the Russian government denied our existence. They said they had never sent any soldiers to that area. They said we didn't exist.
SUPER CAPTION: Russian Prisoner of War

A four-person delegation of Russian parliament members is in Chechnya to try to secure the release of the prisoners.

They have been talking to the men, and also had a meeting with President Dudayev.

One of the delegation members later said he believes the Russians will be released.

However, he criticised the rebels for " using people with guns - first locals and then Russian soldiers".

Meanwhile, the airstrikes have continued with further attacks over Grozny, the capital today (Friday). Raids this week have killed at least five people.

Delegation member Ella Pamfilova, who used to be Yeltsin's social welfare minister, said "It is clear that these planes are not English or French but Russian. This is against the law."

Chechen officials say air attacks today (Friday) targetted a tank regiment east of Grozny.

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