KHANKALA. Oct 11 (Interfax-AVN) - Some leaders of illegal armed units in Chechnya are getting ready to flee Russia, spokesman for the federal forces in the North Caucasus Major General Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax on Monday.
"Some ringleaders are actively preparing to flee from Russia. They are waiting for federal forces to slow down their operations in the forested highlands," Shabalkin said.
This information was received from detained militants, he said.
"Detained militants said the majority of the ringleaders fear for their lives and have enhanced safety measures because of the federal forces' active searching for and neutralization of leaders and members of illegal armed units," he said.
"One of the ringleaders, Doku Umarov, has stopped personal supervision of attacks for fear of being brought to justice," Shabalkin said.
"Umarov and his close circle keep moving around the southern district of the republic and change their location each night. Umarov avoids meetings with local residents and visits to areas adjoining towns and villages," he said.