21 April 2008, 15:39
"Kommersant": 300 "Vostok" special fighters changed for Chechen militia
The "Kommersant" newspaper reports that over 300 privates and officers of the "Vostok" special battalion of the Ministry of Defence, commanded by Sulim Yamadaev, who is in conflict with President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, decided to pass over for service in Chechen militia units. The remaining servicemen of "Vostok" call them deserters, demanding the Prosecutor's Office to deal with the case.
"I was Commander of Squadron One, and got convinced from my personal experience that the missions that the command gave were beyond the interests of the state and the nation. Most of the orders were illegal, therefore, we quitted the battalion, and we are ready to continue our service anywhere in law enforcement bodies where the law is respected," said Roman Tsakaev, former squadron commander of the "Vostok" on air of several Chechen TV Channels.
The officer has informed that all the militaries who quitted the battalion have already received new uniform and according to their wishes will be employed by the militia of Chechnya, the "Kommersant" writes.
