…ALLEGES THAT ROGUE FIELD COMMANDERS WANT TO DESTABILIZE SITUATION.

Turning to the political situation in Chechnya, Aslan Maskhadov said "some so-called politicians and former field commanders," taking advantage of the economic difficulties in post-war Chechnya, are trying to destabilize the situation in the republic. (NTV, February 6; RTR, February 7) Most likely, Maskhadov was referring to well-known field commander Salman Raduev because, of all the Chechen politicians, he has repeatedly criticized the Chechen authorities. Raduev’s reaction was instantaneous. Addressing a meeting of his supporters in Grozny on February 7, Raduev gave Maskhadov until February 15 to resolve the issue of the liability of "those who have the blood of Chechen citizens on their conscience" (i.e., pressing criminal charges against the top Russian officials responsible for sending Russian troops into Chechnya and their actions in the republic) and to pass a law stipulating that ministers may be held criminally liable for failing to do their jobs. Otherwise, Raduev said, he will call on the Chechen population not to obey the government. (RTR, February 7)

Yeltsin Terms Baltic Accession to NATO "Unacceptable."