Moscow Denies Reports On Alleged Incident With Humanitarian Convoy In Chechnya

A spokesman for the staff of Russian presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky denied the allegations on an incident with a humanitarian convoy from the Danish Refugee Council. The spokesman announced Saturday that April 24 a humanitarian convoy of the Danish mission left Nazran, Ingushetia (a Russian constituent republic), for the Chechen settlement of Kurchaloi. Still, the organisers of the convoy did not inform the Kurchaloi district commandants about the time when the column would move, which was, however, necessary to provide escort to the convoy. In view of these circumstances the column was stopped. According to the Staff's spokesman, deputy commander of the Russian Combined forces, Major-General Kizyun, arrived to the scene. The Danish were asked to produce the routine card and had the cargo checked -- it contained flour, rice, potatoes and dry milk. Then, the Kurchaloi-bound column was let go. The Staff's spokesman stressed that "there are no facts testifying to neither serious incidents between federal servicemen and the Danish, nor firing or violence."