GUDERMES. July 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The militants that were eliminated on the Chechen-Dagestani administrative border early on Thursday were part of Dagestani terrorist Khairulla Elmurzayev's group, Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov said.
"These militants were recruited in Nuradilovo, Dagestan. They recruit 18 and 20 year-olds, give them weapons and send them to Chechnya to commit terrorist attacks," he said in Gudermes on Thursday.
The group intended to enter Chechnya to organize and commit a series of terrorist attacks, he said.
"Illegal armed groups are planning to Elmurzayev to the role previously filled by Shamil Basayev, making him the main terrorist. Elmurzayev wields power over terrorists in Dagestan, and over Arab and Turkish mercenaries," he said.
"Law enforcement agencies are in control of Chechnya's territory and are preventing a deterioration in the situation," he said.