Aslakhanov: Cut Troops

The Associated Press

Published: June 22, 2004 (Issue # 979)

VLADIKAVKAZ, North Ossetia - Aslambek Aslakhanov, a Chechen who advises President Vladimir Putin on Chechnya called on Friday for Russia to reduce its troops presence in Chechnya, where he said police who work for the Moscow-backed regional government are becoming more effective.

Aslakhanov said "unneeded troops should be withdrawn from Chechnya, and more law enforcement functions should be delegated to the regional law enforcement system," Interfax reported.

"The Chechen police are beginning to fulfill their direct responsibilities, fighting crime more actively," he said.

Aslakhanov said he was repeating calls made by slain Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who repeatedly made similar statements.

Aslakhanov did not say how many troops should be withdrawn. Russia has about 70,000 troops in Chechnya not counting its own Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service forces, according to the authorities, and the Chechen Interior Ministry has 14,000, members, Interfax reported.

Aslakhanov said he expects the main contenders in the Aug. 29 election to replace Kadyrov will be Chechen Interior Minister Alu Alkhanov, who was won support from the Kremlin and Kadyrov's allies, and Malik Saidullayev, a Moscow-based Chechen businessman who led Kadyrov in opinion polls before the October vote but was disqualified by a court.

Aslakhanov also said it is possible that Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov and rebel warlord Shamil Basayev are no longer in Chechnya, Interfax reported.

A Chechen official said earlier in the week that Basayev might have gone abroad last September.

"There are grounds to suggest that Maskhadov and Basayev may not be in Chechnya," Aslakhanov said.

He said that he had heard rumors Basayev left for medical treatment, and pointed out that neither man has given interviews to media recently.