Monday, September 24, 2012
Former Russia defence chief Grachev dies
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former Russian Defence Minister Pavel Grachev, who said Chechen rebels could be crushed in a few hours with a single airborne regiment - ahead of a devastating 20-month war - died on Sunday aged 64.
The general was defence minister under President Boris Yeltsin in 1992-1996 and was one of the decision-makers behind the first war Moscow launched, in December 1994, to defeat separatist forces.
 |
File photo of former Russian Defence Minister Pavel Grachev standing under two Russian state flags prior to the meeting devoted to the 50th anniversary of the World War II ending on August 29, 1995. |
Tens of thousands of people, many of them civilians, were killed before the signing of an August 1996 treaty that called for the withdrawal of federal forces and left the region in the hands of separatist leaders.
Grachev died at the Vishnyevsky military hospital outside Moscow.
Federal forces returned to Chechnya in 1999, beginning another devastating war that helped propel Vladimir Putin to Russia's presidency and restored Russian rule over the region but also fuelled an Islamist insurgency that persists today.
Grachev was dogged by accusations of involvement in corruption linked to the Soviet withdrawal from East Germany.
A journalist who had linked Grachev to corruption in the military, Dmitry Kholodov, was killed by an exploding briefcase in 1994, and his newspaper pointed the finger at Grachev.
Grachev was not charged in connection with Kholodov's killing, but when testifying as a witness he acknowledged using harsh words about the journalist when speaking to subordinates.
It is one of the many killings of Russian government critics that remain unsolved years later.
(Writing by Steve Gutterman; Editing by Pravin Char)
- Police to appeal rejection of trio's remand, says Zahid
- MCMC: Suspect who allegedly insulted Sultan of T’ganu on Facebook detained
- Single-party BN is 'new wine in an old bottle', says Chow
- PKR rep asks for top GLC roles
- Rela member in coma after being hit by escaping motorcyclist
- Blackmail victim reaches end of tether
- PAS mulling action against members who caused three-way fights
- Pakatan leaders mixed on single-party Barisan
- PKR to postpone party elections
- Storify: UEFA Champions League 2012/2013
- Chua: Cops right to act against those inciting racial hatred
- DPM: Turning BN into a single party must be evaluated in detail
- All religions practise good teachings
- Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
- Syndicate linked to IC deal busted
- Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
- Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
- Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
- News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
- Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
- Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
- Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
- Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
- IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
- Politics of development pays dividend
- A thematic play seen
- Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
- Getting GST acceptance will be tough
- A yen for the unloved dollar standard
- Bitten by the music bug
- Make betting legal, says top Indian body
- NBA: Pacers edge Heat to even series
- Arat: Istanbul bid to host the 2020 Olympic is about building bridges
- Golf: Two share lead at inaugural rain-hit Pure Silk LPGA
- Golf: Kuchar leads weather-hit Colonial
- Squash: Matthew offers a message with a warning
- Golf: Molinari leads but Ryder Cup colleagues crash out
- Tennis: Djokovic blocks Nadal path to Paris super eight
- MSSM meet: 15 records in five days augur well for M’sian athletics
- Indonesian Rexy's advise to M'sian team: Stick together as a family
- Yongbo: Beat us if you can, not good for China to win all the time
- Thai Ratchanok wins many hearts with her gritty display
- Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
- Basketball: Warriors have no problem taming Dragons in Jakarta
- National hockey juniors fare badly in tourney
- Chua: Cops right to act against those inciting racial hatred
- Robber shot dead after picking on wrong ‘victim’
- Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
- Trio walk free after court turns down remand request
- Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
- DPM: Turning BN into a single party must be evaluated in detail
- EC: Blackout photo is a fake
- Vujicic finds magic in helping youths
- Syndicate linked to IC deal busted
- Ministry: Marriage should not be way out for suspected rapists
- Living through your midlife
- Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
- Who has the better chance of bagging that high-salary post?
- Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
- Klang Valley a haven for UOA Dev
- Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
- More can be done to promote private retirement scheme
- Politics of development pays dividend
- Ex-steward gets to set aside default judgment
- Robber shot dead after picking on wrong ‘victim’
RSS
