1,500 Criminal Cases Launched Against Russian Military Since Chechen Warfare Start

Military prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings on 1,781 cases since anti-terror action started in Chechnya. The Russian military are accused on 1,452 cases, while the other 329 concern soldiers killed or injured by rebels and in terror acts, say federal Prosecutor-General's office statistics. Preliminary investigation is over on 724 cases. 375 files concerning 405 soldiers have been passed to military courts. Fifteen soldiers--13 privates and two commissioned officers--were convicted for crimes against Chechnya's residents.