MOSCOW. Aug 6 (Interfax-AVN) - Leaders of Chechen rebel formations Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov are in Chechen territory, Commander of the Russian Airborne Troops Georgy Shpak told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"Basayev and Maskhadov still remain within the boundaries of the Chechen Republic," he said.
Task forces of the Airborne Troops, the Main Intelligence Department and the Federal Security Service are continuing a joint operation to find the separatist leaders, Shpak said. "This is not just a question of neutralizing Basayev and Maskhadov, but other rebel leaders as well," he said.
"We have all of them listed and naturally we are taking every step to stamp out this scum. You can say that such actions have been scaled up. Very serious measures are being taken to localize the entire conflict in Chechnya, for which it is first of all necessary to catch rebel leaders," Shpak stressed.
The airborne grouping in Chechnya currently consists of about 3,000 servicemen, he said.
"Paratroopers mostly accomplish planned combat missions to carry out reconnaissance and search operations, escort military convoys and protect important installations," Shpak added.