Surrendered militants helped deter 20 terror acts

Nearly 20 terrorist acts have been deterred in Chechnya thanks to evidence provided by three militants, who gave themselves up to authorities on Monday, the regional headquarters for the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus, told RIA Novosti.

Hizir Magomadov, 34, Vaha Amayev and Anzor Burayev, both 23, surrendered to authorities yesterday. They were members of a group led by Saidayev, former chief of Chechen warlord Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev's guards. The group was active in Chechnya's Kurchaloi and Nozhai Yurt districts. Their gang leader is currently abroad, delivering money across the border. Russian security agencies say he receives money from international terrorist organisations. The headquarters says the Saidayev-led group is part of a larger group of Avdorhanov, in charge of the personal guards of Aslan Maskhadov, self-styled president of an independent Chechnya.

The three militants reported the whereabouts of a cache. Police found explosives weighing a total of 100-120 kg in TNT equivalent, enough to stage as many as 20 terrorist acts.