MOSCOW. Nov 24 (Interfax-AVN) - A 33-year-old Ibragim Zakayev, who voluntarily gave himself in to the law enforcement of the Gudermes district in Chechnya, said he was trained in Saudi Arabia, reads the statement of the joint press center of the Operations Headquarters in Chechnya, received by Interfax-AVN on Friday.
According to the information provided by the press center, he surrendered with a large group of other militants. "He was trained in Saudi Arabia and participated in combat against the federal forces from 1994 till 2003," reads teh press release.
The press center also informs, that the gang headed by Zakayev in March 2004 reported directly to Shamil Basayev. "Zakayev laid down his Kalashnikov rifle when he came to surrender. An investigation has started into the details of his militant activity before amnesty can be applied to him," reads the press release.
A group of 35 militants from different gangs came to the Gudermes law enforcement on Thursday to surrender. "According to preliminary accounts, the militants are from 16 different groups," reads the press release.
Those surrendered include a 36-year-old Aslanbek Aliyev, who was an operative at the Ruslan Khaikharoyev-led gang in January 1997, which was reputed one of the most violent. Another militant surrendered is a 26-year-old Alhazur Omarov, who was a member of the Tauz Bagurayev gang and fought against the federals since September 1999. This gang was subordinate to Ruslan Gelayev.
According to the press center, the fact that 11 of the 16 leaders of the gangs they were in have been killed by the federal forces in different special operations.