GROZNY. July 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Leaders of rebel units in Chechnya are setting the scene for a large-scale propaganda action on August 6, the anniversary of Grozny's fall to their forces, Colonel Boris Podoprigora, deputy commander of the unified federal troops group in the North Caucasus, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
People of Slavic origin are being lured into working in Chechnya under dubious contracts, Podoprigora said. They may be made to pose as federal soldiers in a provocation, he said.
Rebels have been approaching ethnic Chechens serving in police service and construction workers coming from other parts of the country, Podoprigora said. New federal uniforms were found in four caches in Chechnya last week, he said.
"These facts suggest that rebels are planning something aimed at discrediting servicemen," Podoprigora said. Their chief goal is to demonstrate to the Russian and world publics that "Chechen resistance forces" are strong and effective, he said.