By Country / Russia
Russia Plans Amnesty For Chechen Separatists
July 18, 2006
Nikolai Patrushev (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
Details of the amnesty have yet to be worked out, but Patrushev, who also heads Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB, said the amnesty would offer those "deceived by the leaders of militant groups and drawn into criminal activity...a real chance to return to peaceful life."
Patrushev urged rebels to disarm by August 1.
The amnesty follows the death of rebel warlord Shamil Basayev on July 10.
Past amnesties have had limited success.
(dpa, Reuters)