In Chechnya, the pro-Russian government reported that 1,132 Chechen civilians died last year. More worrisome for Chechens, both rebel and pro-Russian, is that 300 Russian soldiers are under investigation for "disappearing" civilians. In the first two months of 2003, 76 Chechen civilians were murdered (some by rebels) and 126 kidnapped (by rebels and soldiers.) The kidnappings by soldiers are used both to obtain help against the rebels, or simply for ransom. The rebels do the same.
