Authorities persuade "Chechen emir" with explosive belt to surrender
GROZNY. March 2 (Interfax) - The authorities in the Chechen Republic have managed to persuade one of the local insurgency leaders, Zelimkhan Magomadov, who was on the federal wanted list, to give up.
The so-called "emir of the plains of the Chechen Republic" was rounded up in the village of Voikovo, on the southern outskirts of Grozny, on Monday, during a security operation in response to a tipoff, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax.
Magomadov had a small-arms weapon and was wearing a very powerful explosive belt, he said.
"This was a dangerous situation. Detonation of the explosive device could have been fatal. We managed to promptly find out the emir's phone number. I contacted him and held difficult talks, as a result of which I managed to persuade Magomadov to put the gun down, not to activate the explosive device and surrender," the Chechen leader said.
He said he assured Magomadov of being given "a fair trial and convinced him that it was best for him to surrender rather than commit yet another grave crime which could result in multiple casualties."
An inquiry is underway.
