There are no more than 70 militants remaining in Chechnya, the republic's leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Friday, just days after a brazen militant attack on its parliament.
"A small group of participants of illegal armed formations remain. They may comprise of 50-70 people," Kadyrov said.
Kadyrov also said the militants had no social support, saying the people had "cursed" them.
"We have reliable information that an inner conflict is gaining momentum among the militants, and eventually, it may lead to them liquidating each other," Kadyrov added.
At least 75 militants, including 3 gang leaders, have been eliminated in Chechnya since the beginning of the year, Chechen Interior Minister Muslim Isayev said on Thursday.
This Tuesday's deadly raid on Chechnya's parliament was a major embarrassment for the Kremlin, which announced last year the end of a decade-long counter terrorist operation in the republic, which saw two brutal separatist wars in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Kadyrov, a former militant turned Kremlin ally, has been credited with bring a level of stability to the republic. However, his critics accuse him of building a cult of personality and involvement in human rights abuses.
GROZNY, October 22 (RIA Novosti)
