15:44, 6 January 2004

Dagestani Interior Ministry on Gelayev's possible death in avalanche

The Dagestani Interior Ministry does not rule out that Chechen field commander Ruslan Gelayev could die in a snow avalanche.

"Gelayev can be one of the extremists who are still hiding in mountain forests from retribution, or he can be among the militants who died in a snow avalanche," Deputy Interior Minister of Dagestan and chief of the public security service Major General Magomed Omarov said in an interview.

He participated in the operation to eliminate a militant gang in the Tsuntinsky district of Dagestan.

Referring to the captive militants' testimony, the general said that Gelayev headed the mentioned gang. According to Omarov, he failed to identify Gelayev among the militants killed in the operation. "There is no Gelayev among the captives either," said Omarov who had met Gelayev.

Earlier, Dagestan and Chechnya's security structures refused to confirm media reports about Gelayev's elimination.

Editors note: See also the article "Alleged information about Ruslan Gelayev's death is not confirmed yet".

Source: RIA Novosti