BATTALION “VOSTOK”, LED BY FAMOUS CHECHEN WARLORD SULIM YAMADAYEV WAS ORGANISED FROM A FEW THOUSANDS OF CHECHEN INSURGENTS, WHO FOUGHT THE RUSSIANS IN THE REPUBLIC’S 1^ST WAR FROM 1994-96, BUT CHANGED SIDES AND JOINED MOSCOW’S BATTLE AGAINST ISLAMITE MILITANTS IN THE CURRENT CONFLICT, WHICH BEGAN 1999. BASED 25 MILES EAST OF THE BOMBED OUT CAPITAL GROZNY, THE SPECIAL FORCES BATTALION IS UNDER COMMAND OF RUSSIA’S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND CLAIMS IT’S MISSION IS TO KILL THE “SHAITANY” (DEVILS) – RADICAL ISLAMITE UNDERGROUND’ FIGHTERS AND IT’S ARAB ALLIES, WHO ARE STILL FIGHTING THE KREMLIN TROOPS. THE BATTALION HAS LOST OVER A 100 OF FIGHTERS IN THIS RUTHLESS WAR AND KILLED MORE THAN 500 INSURGENTS. “VOSTOK” WORKING METHODS ARE OFTEN CRITICIZED BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, WHICH ACCUSE “YAMADAYEVTSY” OF NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS, EXTRAJUDICAL EXECUTIONS, ABDUCTIONS AND TORTURES OF DETAINEES AND SECRET MURDERS OF THEIR OPPONENTS.