"A certain amount of arms from Russia's arms depots in Transdnestr appeared in Chechnya and a part of it allegedly went to militants in Beslan," Tarlev said at a news conference, referencing intelligence reports.
Ivanov said he was completely sure that the arms had not been taken from Russia's stockpiles and, that apart from Russian peacekeepers, Transdnestr had its own armed forces properly guarding their arms depots.
The minister also said Russia would continue its peacekeeping mission in Transdnestr under CIS mandate until a political decision stipulated otherwise. He said Russia was not seeking a peacekeeping monopoly and that "dozens and even hundreds of countries could participate in peacekeeping missions.
"As for us [Russia], we first need a political decision and then military guarantees," he said.
