"Werewolves" in Chechnya

There is a gang of so-called "werewolves," or militants disguised as Russian servicemen, on the territory of the Chechen republic, the Russian president's aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky told journalists after a meeting with Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Council of Europe's High Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to Yastrzhembsky, militants use the disguise to get even with the loyal-minded civilians that want Chechnya to hold a referendum.

On his part, Gil-Robles said that during his trip to Chechnya, he heard numerous complaints from civilians who said people wearing the federal forces' uniforms were often kidnapping locals.