Chechen Warlord At Large In Georgia

Ruslan Gelayev, a leading Chechen warlord, is apparently holing up in Georgia with the connivance of the country's government, commander of the North Caucasus Military District, Colonel General Gennady Troshev, told reporters on Sunday. "He's definitely there," the general emphasized. Troshev maintains that Gelayev "escaped into Georgia way back after the fighting in the Chechen village of Komsomolskoye" in order "to heal his wounds and get a band together." He contends Gelayev "gathered that band in Georgia and was about to cross into Russia, only to be defeated in Abkhazia early last month." Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's remarks about the terrorist, who happens to be on the international wanted list, caused an outcry in Russia. He characterized Gelayev as "an educated person" "nice in all respects." Georgian authorities are known to have aided and abetted international terrorists who have found shelter in the country.