Anatoly Chechulin, commander of the 25,000 Russian border guards in Tajikistan, quoted intelligence reports as saying the rebels were planning an attack before a fourth round of talks between the government and opposition Monday in Moscow.
Chechulin said in a statement that opposition leader Sayeed Abdullah Nouri had met fellow rebel commander Rezvon Sadirov in northern Afghanistan to plan the attack. Any assault would be repulsed, he said.
"Plans to build up military operations would lead to big losses and difficulties for the local population," he said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
