Freed Russian journalist back in Moscow

Babitsky

February 29, 2000
Web posted at: 1:30 p.m. EST (1830 GMT)

In this story: Swift action follows Putin's comments Babitsky calls guards 'sadists' RELATED STORIES, SITES

MOSCOW (CNN) -- A journalist for the U.S.-funded Radio Liberty, whose detention by Russian troops in Chechnya sparked protests inside Russia and abroad, was released in Moscow on Tuesday.

Andrei Babitsky, whose reporting from behind rebel lines had angered Russian officials, was detained by Russian troops in January as they advanced on the Chechen capital, Grozny.

Officials said he had improper accreditation and was suspected of helping rebel fighters. The accusations were vigorously denied by Radio Liberty.

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CNN's Matthew Chance talks with Babitsky. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

Later Babitsky was videotaped in an apparent prisoner exchange with the rebels for two Russian soldiers and concern for his safety grew as he disappeared inside Chechnya for weeks.

Swift action follows Putin's comments

He re-emerged over the weekend in the Russian republic of Dagestan, but was detained again, this time for allegedly using a forged passport. His wife was allowed to see him in the Dagestan capital, Makhachkala, and even Russia's acting President Vladimir Putin publicly questioned the Interior Ministry's handling of the case.

Just hours after Putin's comments, Babitsky was put on a plane, reportedly belonging to the Interior Ministry, and returned to Moscow late Monday.

"It was very strange. They didn't inform my wife. They put me on an empty plane, even though my wife is now in Makhachkala but I guess it was difficult to take her too," Babitsky told CNN.

Babitsky says he still faces investigation by the Russian authorities and has been told he must stay in Moscow as a condition of his release.

But it is unclear whether the charges against Babitsky will be taken further as Moscow has come under increasing pressure, from both home and abroad, to bring the case to a close.

Concern for Babitsky's life grew after he was videotaped in an apparent prisoner exchange

Babitsky calls guards 'sadists'

In an interview with Radio Liberty, Babitsky said that during his incarceration in the Chernokozovo detention center in Chechnya Russian guards hit him on the torso with nightsticks. He said that compared to the beatings dealt to other prisoners, he had gotten off lightly, with the pain fading within two or three days.

"I don't consider what was done to me to be beating, because in Chernokozovo, beating is real torture," he said. He called the detention center guards "sadists."

His comments come as Russian troops in Chechnya are facing allegations of widespread abuses by international human rights groups.

Babitsky, speaking in an interview with private NTV television on Monday, said that a fake Azerbaijani passport had been given to him by his Chechen captors, who took away his own documents.

"Those who accompanied me left me no other choice but to try and get to Azerbaijan, which I didn't want," he said. He added that the attempt to cross the border from Dagestan into Azerbaijan had failed because the forgers had forgotten to place a stamp in the fake passport.

Babitsky said he had persuaded his escort to make a stopover in Makhachkala, where he was detained.

Babitsky also said he was not sure who had been holding him after the prisoner swap. "I can't say with any trustworthiness just who were the people who were holding me and trying through various ways to exert the most varied kinds of influence on me," he said.

Correspondent Matthew Chance and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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