28 June 2008, 17:10
Ruslan Yamadaev: authorities of Chechnya unfold campaign against "Vostok" commander
The government of Chechnya has launched a PR-campaign against Sulim Yamadaev, commander of the "Vostok" (East) battalion with the aim to conceal their own crimes. This was stated to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Ruslan Yamadaev, Sulim Yamadaev's relative.
"The film that was shown yesterday is nothing but a propaganda campaign," said Ruslan Yamadaev. "Soon they will show such films about them that the world will stagger."
His point was the film shown on June 27 by the GTRK "Grozny" TV Channel, which tells about the activities of Sulim Yamadaev, commander of the special-purpose battalion of the GRU "Vostok". The main film heroes were former fighters of Yamadaev's battalion and peaceful residents who suffered from special fighters.
An employee of the "Grozny" TV and Radio Company has told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the initiative to make a film about "Vostok" commander originated from the press service of the government of Chechnya.
"It has initially been a game of two politicians, and the film that they showed yesterday is a PR-campaign, launched now by the government to discredit the actions of the battalion," a source at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Chechnya said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Many ordinary residents of Chechnya also think that the government of the Republic is now purposefully trying "to accuse of all sins" the commander of the "Vostok" battalion Yamadaev, since they do not need him any longer and try to move him away.
Author: Abdula Saitiev, CK correspondent
