In the letter, carried in Saturday's Moskovsky Komsomolets, Gusev said Grachev had "betrayed" Yeltsin and the people during the Oct. 3-4 events in 1993 because he had delayed the commitment of troops to Moscow.
Gusev also said the "lawlessness" and "corruption" in the army leadership had reached their "apogee" under Grachev. "A mafia network" had been established in the Western Group in the Russian Army, he said.
Last week, Grachev began libel proceedings against Gusev and his newspaper over accusations that he was involved in corruption and implicated in the death of Dmitry Kholodov, a reporter killed by a bomb last Monday.
Undaunted, Gusev has continued his campaign against the Defense Minister.
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.