Russia and France to join their efforts in search operations against the Chechen diaspora

As per agency reports, the Russian and French interior ministries agreed on joint search operations against the Chechen diaspora in France. This was stated by Maj-Gen Aleksandr Mikhaylenko, head of the interdepartmental money-laundering centre at the Russian Interior Ministry. This understanding was reached during a visit of a French Interior Ministry delegation to Russia, which ended last Sunday. "Work will be done in strict compliance with legislation of the two nations," Mikhaylenko emphasized. "It will be spearheaded at fighting international terrorism and crime." According to the general, the two interior ministries, acting in the framework of cooperation to fight money laundering, reached understandings on specific cases which will be investigated in France, Russia and Spain in 2001, "The Russia Journal" reports. During the talks, the sides also discussed information on the transfer of money from Russia to the French Riviera. According to some data, the Riviera is precisely the place where a considerable part of money, illegally exported from Russia, is stashed away.