KHANKALA. May 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The rebel group led by field commander Yusup is ready for relocation to Chechnya from Georgia's Pankisi gorge, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"The extremists can try to cross the border anytime, especially on the Sharo-Argun section. According to available data, the rebel formation consisting of 20 to 25 people mostly comprises residents of southeastern Chechen districts, both those who have participated in combat operations against federal forces and raw recruits," the spokesman said.
According to him, before leaving for Georgia the Yusup group specialized in organizing sabotage acts in the Sharoi and Vedeno districts of the breakaway republic. This is where the gang is planning to return.
In order to prevent rebels from crossing into Chechnya federal forces planted mines on their possible routes and stepped surveillance over various parts of the border using technical reconnaissance means, including aircraft, at night.
Units of the 45th separate airborne reconnaissance regiment stationed in the area are carrying out intensive reconnaissance and search operations and organizing ambushes on possible trans- border routes.