Russian MFA Information and Press Department Commentary Regarding the Elimination of Aslan Maskhadov

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: Many commentaries have appeared in the media recently in connection with the elimination of Aslan Maskhadov. How could you comment upon them?

Answer: Moscow has been closely watching the commentaries regarding the liquidation in a counter-terrorist operation of one of the leaders of international terrorists, Aslan Maskhadov. The authors of a number of them are distressed about there being "no one left to hold negotiations with on achieving a peaceful settlement in Chechnya," Maskhadov supposedly having been "a moderate leader of the separatists" operating in the North Caucasus.

There is no way we can agree with this approach. First, the process of political settlement is already under way in the Chechen Republic: a Constitution adopted, a President elected, preparations being made for parliamentary elections, an extensive program for an economic and social revival of the republic approved. So all those really desirous of a political settlement in Chechnya have a real possibility to participate in this process. And to call Maskhadov a "man with whom it was possible to negotiate" is sacrilegious to say the least, especially recalling his involvement in the tragedies on Dubrovka and in Beslan. Now there are already video materials available evidencing that under Maskhadov's leadership new bloody terrorist acts were being planned. They have now become known to the public and media.

By the way, in 1996, when the Khasavyurt decisions were made, we were witnesses of a war among individual groups for the territory, and then those groups set themselves the objective of creating a caliphate from the Black to the Caspian Sea and made an incursion into Dagestan. It was Maskhadov who was the president then. So that Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov are both figures of the same order. Basayev said bluntly in a television appearance that he had been fulfilling the orders of Maskhadov.

Maskhadov's elimination has roused the opponents of a resolution of the situation in the Chechen Republic and those emissaries and accomplices of the terrorists who are currently abroad, and are using the information platforms of a number of foreign states. As can be seen from their numerous statements, all they can say is to threaten us with new terrorist acts in Russia. The aim is clear: to create a nervous atmosphere in the country and to try instilling in the public a sense of unprotectedness and fear.

It is regrettable that these direct or veiled threats are being actively published by a number of media. And the politicians in the countries where their authors have found shelter are pretending that they do not notice or do not understand the true meaning of these threats. Thus, we are being faced with one more manifestation of "double standards." In words many of them favor an active struggle against international terrorism, but in practice we are witnessing the situation where the elimination of one of the most odious international terrorists is accompanied by an expression of regret.

March 11, 2005