GROZNY. Nov 15 (Interfax-AVN) - A rebel group led by field commander Paizulayev most likely stands behind the abduction of Red Cross officials, a source in the Chechen Main Military Prosecutor's Office told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
Paizulayev and his group are reported to be currently active in Grozny.
"An intensive hunt for Paizulayev's group, which dominates the Grozny suburb of Pobedinskoye (the 15th milk farm), has been underway since September 2002," the source said.
The group is blamed for several murders of federal law- enforcers, but judging from the nature of his actions, Paizulayev mostly specializes in robberies and assaults, the source noted.
According to him, Paizulayev was authorized to conduct subversive actions by Chechen extremist leader Aslan Maskhadov. Some sources say that the gang leader may be an official emissary of Chechnya's former president in Grozny and several Chechen districts adjacent to the capital.