Moscow, 27 January 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russia's Interior Minister Anatoly Kulikov says Russia is reinforcing its administrative border with Chechnya.
Kulikov told Interfax news agency in an interview today that Russia decided to set up military command posts on the border in response to recent events, including an explosion along railroad tracks in Dagestan three days ago. He said five workers were injured in the explosion, two seriously. He did not say what caused the blast.
Kulikov said more than 300 cars cross the administrative border every day, carrying goods such as arms which he said need to be controlled.
His comments come as Chechens go to the polls today to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. Russia completed its troop withdrawal from the breakaway republic earlier this month.