Three suspected militants killed in Russia’s IngushetiaDecember 20, 2012 - 11:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Three suspected militants were killed in a shootout in the turbulent North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, officials said on Thursday, Dec 20, according to RIA Novosti. Two of the killed were identified by the state officials as the leaders of separate influential criminal gangs: Ayub Khaladov and Movsar Katsiyev. The third one was Katsiyev’s subordinate, Khamzat Pugoyev, who was involved into attacks on law enforcement officials in Ingushetia and North Ossetia, Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee said in a statement. One officer of the local Federal Security Service (FSB) branch was injured in the shootout. Khaladov was one of the organizers of the 2010 major attack on native village of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. He was involved into plotting of suicide bombings, including one at the border of Ingushetia and North Ossetia in October, according to the statement said. Russia has been fighting terrorists in its volatile southern republics for over a decade, but terrorist attacks are still frequent in the North Caucasus. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |