Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the European Commission has been provided with complete and reliable information on the activities of the Kulevi port, confirming compliance with the sanctions regime. The statement came amid discussions of the 20th EU sanctions package against Russia, which, according to media reports, may include the Georgian port.
On March 8, 2005, President of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov died in the village of Tolstoy-yurt. During the special operation, he was killed by officers of the Russian Federal Security Service.
It was reported that Maskhadov resisted the attack, and the special forces detonated an explosive device that destroyed the house.
The Russian special services have located the President of the Chechen Republic using special equipment based on mobile phone coordinates.
On 27 January 1997, Aslan Maskhadov was elected President of the Chechen Republic, receiving 59.3% of the vote. The results of the presidential elections were recognized by Russia, OSCE, the Council of Europe, PACE, the European Parliament, whose representatives were observers.