December 28, 2000

The navy announced that this year, Russian warships would again be stationed in all the world's oceans. Permanent flotillas will be stationed in the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Meanwhile, in Chechnya, 248 soldiers, including 21 officers, have been convicted of crimes against the local civilians. Another 115 cases are being investigated.  Peace talks with Chechen separatists are still being explored. Unofficial talks, led by a Russian legislator, were held in neighboring Ingushetia and revealed that there were two likely peace terms. Either the Chechens accept an autonomous government within the Russian federation, or Chechnya be partitioned (the north is more pro-Russian than the south.)