RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN PRISONERS OF WAR

(9 Jan 1995) Russian/Nat

A Russian officer held as a prisoner of war by Chechen fighters near Grozny has told APTV he believes his army's campaign in the breakaway republic is not working.

The officer was among a group of paratroopers who surrendered to the Chechens after a battle in which two of Russians were killed and two more were injured.

The 39 Russian soldiers are being held in a compound in a village south of Grozny.

They were discovered by Chechen fighters while on a reconnaissance mission in Chechen woodland.

The soldiers said they had radioed for help during their mission - Russians helicopters did arrived but could not land because of fog.

The ten officers and 29 privates finally surrendered after the gun battle in which their comrades were killed.

The two dead Russians were buried by Chechens and the two wounded are in hospital.

The remaining soldiers have no complaints about their treatment.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
Q: "How are you being treated?"
A: "You might say amazingly, if you consider that literally a few days ago in this village we suffered air attacks and a lot of civilians were killed. This kind of treatment is simply amazing."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Igor Morozov

The major could not defend Russian policy in Chechnya.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Why is it so brutal? I think it's from desperation. Since we got into this mess, as far as possible we have to finish it. But it's not working. That's why you have air attacks and why civilians are terrorised and that just makes the Chechens more willing to fight. So this is going to last for an awful long time."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Igor Morozov

Here in this village, the two sides in this war simply want to be friends.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I'm certain that if we release them they will be sent back again but it would be nice if they would go back as friends when it's all over. But we don't want them back bearing arms."
SUPER CAPTION: Abu Mavsayev - Chechen head of regional security

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
Q: "Are you afraid of the bombing?"
A: "I'm afraid for myself. I'm afraid for the prisoners of war. The Russians will bomb wherever these prisoners are and they will blame us. That's the kind of dirty politics involved."
SUPER CAPTION: Abu Mavsayev - Chechen head of regional security

The Chechens say they want to swap these prisoners of war for Chechens held by the Russians.

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