Law enforcers release several hostages in Chechnya

Law enforcers carried out a special operation to release hostages in Avtury village (Nozhai-Yurt district, Chechnya), a spokesman for the regional operative staff for the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus told RIA Novosti.

"Militants attacked the village on July 12-13 and took some hostages to demand ransom from their families," RIA Novosti's interlocutor said.

"According to the released hostages, Magomet-Emin Bagiyev is the militants' leader," he added.

The names of the hostages are not disclosed in the interest of investigation, he said.

Moreover, warlord Vakha Umatov met with other warlords and they condemned a certain Nazirov, emir of the Nadterechny district, to death," the spokesman reported.

In his words, the militants accused the emir of misappropriating the money meant for terrorist acts.

The search and investigation are underway, he noted.