18 August 2004, 19:56
People flee from Grozny
Locals living in the town of Grozny are fleeing from the republican capital and leaving for other districts of the republic. Many of them take their families out of Grozny being afraid that rebels may become more active and large-scale military operations may begin in the town. These fears are caused by circulating rumors that Maskhadov and Basayev's groups are going to occupy Grozny and some other large settlements in the republic on the eve of the polling day in the Chechen presidential election.
Chechen law enforcers believe these panic rumors are being spread by rebels and their accomplices in order to destabilize the situation in the republic before and during the election of the Chechen president. However authorities' assurances that the situation is under full control and no grounds for fears exist do not influence the people's spirits.
Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent Source: Caucasian Knot
