Dmitry Ardamassky said the president had not yet responded to the appeal which had been sent to Yeltsin's office at the end of last week.
Historically, Cossacks make up a considerable part of the border population and the country's military leadership decided this year to use them to guard state borders.
Viktor Leutsky, a Cossack duty officer at the Krasnodar headquarters in south Russia, said: "If we are told to go (to Chechnya) we are ready to fulfil the order. Most of these lands belong to us."
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.