MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said he welcomes the $10 million dollar reward paid out to the people who helped locate Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov.
"I am extremely satisfied with reports that the aforementioned sum has already been paid out. Now everyone will know that information about separatist leaders will always be rewarded," Alkhanov told Interfax on Tuesday.
Rewards will help obtain needed information about the heads of terrorist groups, he said.
"I think the process of neutralizing Chechen warlords will be carried out much faster now," Alkhanov said.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) paid cash rewards to citizens who provided information about the possible whereabouts of Aslan Maskhadov.
"Citizens possessing the necessary information contacted the FSB after it announced a $10 million reward for information on the whereabouts of terrorist leaders in September 2004. This information helped establish the whereabouts of international terrorist and guerrilla leader of the Chechen republic Aslan Maskhadov and carry out this operation," the FSB said in a press release circulated on Tuesday.
"The aforementioned citizens received their reward in full, and they can expect assistance if they choose to move to a different region in Russia or a Muslim country, should it prove necessary," the release reads.
"Russia's FSB confirms its readiness to continue to ensure security and pay rewards to people who provide reliable information on the whereabouts of terrorist leaders," it reads.