Local official kidnapped in Chechnya

Deputy Chairman of Chechnya's State Property Committee Gichikayev has been kidnapped in Chechnya.

The abduction took place on Monday, at 9 p.m. /Moscow time/, in the Oktyabrsky district of Grozny, the regional operational headquarters for controlling the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus reported on Tuesday.

Four unknown camouflaged individuals entered Gichikayev's house and, threatening with guns, tied him and took him in an unknown direction. Search has been launched, though the kidnappers have not made any demands so far.