MOSCOW. Sep 3 (Interfax) - The Russian Interior Ministry branch in the Chechen Republic has denied reports that 40 residents of the town of Argun were detained in Chechnya.
"The news reports published by one news 'outlet' and disseminated by certain media which said that 40 local residents were detained in Argun have nothing to do with reality," the press service of the Chechen Interior Ministry told Interfax.
The press service described those reports as "deliberate lies and disinformation".
Media reported earlier that approximately 40 individuals were detained in Argun on orders of Ayub Katayev, ex-director of the local Interior Ministry department. It was alleged in the news that authorities subjected the residents to torture demanding that they confess to participating in illegal armed units.
"Ayub Katayev was dismissed after he submitted a letter of resignation. Officers from the Russian Interior Ministry department in Argun are taking operative, preventive and other measures as usual. The measures are aimed to maintain public order and ensure security across the town," the Chechen Interior Ministry's press service said.