Two Terrorists Suspected of Kidnapping Russian Defence Ministry Officer Arrested in Ingushetia

Two terrorists suspected of kidnapping a Russian Defence Ministry officer have been arrested in Ingushetia (North Caucasian republic neighbouring on Chechnya).

The criminals were arrested yesterday by anti-crime police officers and an Interior Ministry mobile detachment in the village Troitskaya of the Sunzhensky district, the Russian Interior Ministry disclosed to a RIA Novosti correspondent. The participants in illegal armed formations, R. Balayev, 21, and M. Ozdoyev, 19, confessed that on January 17th, 2003, they took part in the kidnapping of Major A. Kozyakov.

The arrestees are being subject to operational and investigation measures. They are being checked for their possible involvement in grave and other crimes committed earlier in the republic. An investigation is underway.

The attack on Deputy Unit Commander for Logistic Support Major Kozyakov took place on the Karabulak-Ordzhonikidzevskaya highway in the Sunzhensky district of Ingushetia, the Russian Interior Ministry department for the Southern Federal District disclosed. The kidnappers wore camouflage forms and were armed with pistols. The terrorists stopped the Major's car and, threading him with guns, took him into their Zhiguli car. Police officers of the escorting service accidentally witnessed the kidnapping and followed the terrorists in their special vehicle. The police officers had to use their weapons, but they did not manage to arrest the terrorists on the spot. At the administrative border with Chechnya the criminals left their car and disappeared in the forest. The officer was rescued uninjured.