MOSCOW - Russia's chief military commander in Chechnya admitted yesterday that his troops had committed "crimes on a large scale" during operations in the separatist republic last week.
ITAR-TASS quoted Gen Vladimir Moltensky as telling Russian commanders at their Khankala military base that "crimes on a large scale had been committed during roundups of civilians in Sernovodsk and Assinovskaya".
He added that crimes had also been committed in similar operations in other regions of Chechnya.