20:57, 5 December 2008

Chechen MoI avoids comments on information about Ilaevs' death

The Chechen Republic MoI press-service refused to comment on the death of the Ilaev brothers to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. They claim that there is nothing to add to the published official information.

The following message was placed on the Chechen MoI website on December 2: "Today, as a result of operational search conducted between the settlements of Nagornoye and Kerla-Yurt by officers of the criminal investigation unit of Grozny district department of internal affairs along with militiamen of the patrol service regiment, PPSM-2, non-departmental security regiment under the MoI for the Chechen Republic and other law enforcement agencies, 2 members of illegal armed units have been killed in the course of a combat action".

The victims' relatives claim that Alvi and Adkhan Ilaevs were kidnapped during the night on December 1 from their home in Pervomaiskoe village by power authorities.

Press-service representatives also state that they know nothing about the intention of Ilaevs' relatives to launch a complaint.

Author: Anastasia Kirilenko, CK correspondent