Chechen fighters join struggle alongside pro-Russian fighters in east

(11 Jan 2015) A group of Muslim Chechen fighters in eastern Ukraine said on Sunday they had joined the civil war there on the side of the pro-Russian rebels.
One fighter, who gave his name as Timur, said they had held a meeting in the Chechen capital Grozny back in May 2014, and 38 men had agreed to travel to eastern Ukraine to fight.
The civil war in eastern Ukraine is believed to have drawn hundreds of Chechen fighters loyal to the pro-Russian government in Grozny to the side of the rebels.
There are also reports of Chechens fighting on the side of the Ukrainian government against pro-Russian forces.
Commenting on the recent attacks in Paris which have left 20 people dead, including three gunmen, a fighter called Timur said, "There is nothing in Islam which would force a person to be so violent."
Another fighter, Alehan, condemned the murder of civilians, but also said that the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which was attacked on Wednesday leaving 12 people dead, should "be careful with the feelings of billions of people".
Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon caricature of the Prophet Muhammad, which is forbidden in Islam.
Fighting in eastern Ukraine was ongoing despite a ceasefire reached in September, because the two sides have failed to agree on a line of division to create a buffer zone.
More than 4,700 people have been killed there since April.

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