GROZNY. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Interior Ministry units have not conducted any large-scale operations in Chechnya in recent days, spokesman for the operational headquarters in the North Caucasus Nikolai Varavin told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"I am authorized to say that divisions of the Interior Ministry of Russia are not engaged in any operations in the area of the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia," he said.
Several media reports said earlier that a gun battle with militant leader Doku Umarov's armed group was allegedly underway in the district.
"No armed clashes have been registered in the region over the past three days," Varavin said.
"If units of the Central Intelligence Department and the Federal Security Service were planning an operation against odious militant leaders like Doku Umarov, nobody would speak about the planned operation in advance," the spokesman said.
"I can also say that our divisions have not reported any incidents involving weapons, prolonged firing, aircraft or artillery in the past three days," he said.
"Reports coming from district administrations, law enforcement services, the Interior Ministry and other agencies every two hours indicate that no events have taken place that could be qualified as a large-scale operation aimed at eliminating some militant group," Varavin said.
Some media reports said earlier that Umarov's group had been allegedly surrounded near the village of Yandi-Kotar, 30 kilometers from Achkhoi-Martan, and that a fight involving aircraft had allegedly continued for three days.