On October 13, 2005, at least 150 militants attacked administrative buildings in the capital of the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, 35 law enforcement officers and 12 civilians were killed. The Russian Interior Ministry said that during the two days of fighting that ensued, 91 militants were killed and 36 captured.
"I will put it straight, that people like [Anzor] Astemirov are linked to the secret services of some countries that are planning blitzkriegs in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and the South Caucasus, and are pursuing a militant escalation on our territory to transfer some of their gunmen from Iraq to Russia," said Arkady Yedelev, deputy interior minister.
He highlighted the danger of an escalation and of terrorist acts as long as Astemirov and another wanted militant, Mussa Mukozhev, are at large.
