Personal body-guard of "state security minister" of Ichkeria arrested

A personal body-guard of self-styled state security minister of Ichkeria Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev has been arrested in Grozny by Russian secret services. Ichkeria is the name the Chechens gave to thier self-proclaimed republic.

Russian military in Chechnya informed RIA Novosti that the detainee was an Azeri by nation and had been born in Dagestan, a republic bordering on Chechnya within the Russian Federation, and an active participant in illegal armed units. He is known for a number of grave crimes against captured servicemen and civilians of the Chechen republic. An investigation into all exposed crimes has been launched. The name of the detainee has not been disclosed in the interests of the investigation.

"State security minister of Ichkeria" Turpal-Ali Atgeriyev has already been arrested and in early 2002 sentenced to 15 years in prison for the involvement in the attack on the Dagestani town of Kizlyar in January 1996. Currently, he is serving his sentence.