23:49, 5 January 2004

Dozens of Chechen refugees blocked by Ukrainian military men at frontier with Russia

Chechen refugees who were going to their relatives in Ukraine called the Kavkaz Center agency. Military men made several families, altogether 21 people with small children, get out of the Baku-Kiev train near the Ukrainian frontier station "Red Grave" late in the evening on January 1.

As the refugees report, the senior of the military men, who had introduced themselves as Ukrainian frontier guards, told about the reason of their illegal actions that there was an order not to let Chechens in Ukraine by Russia's request.

People were left to the mercy of fate. They had neither money nor food and in fact were in the position of hostages.

The Chechen refugees' relatives who live in Ukraine require to let the people go. But Ukrainian authorities keep absolute silence.

It should be pointed out that it is not the first case of such a kind. To please the Kremlin, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly made Chechen families get out at the frontier, not letting them in Ukraine.

Source: Kavkaz Center Website