(Tbilisi, Civil Georgia, July 29, 2002) - Russian troops combat Chechen fighters in Itum-Kale district of Chechnya near the Georgian border.

Russians claim Chechen fighters infiltrated to Russian Federation from Georgia's troubled Pankisi gorge. Georgian Border Guard Department denied information stating that it has no information confirming any movement across the Georgian-Russian border.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry armed clashes launched on July 27; 5 Russian soldiers and 13 Chechen fighters were killed up to now. At the moment Russian troops besieged approximately 60 fighters in Itum-Kale district.

Russians claim that the intruders are the fighters of Chechen warlord Ruslan Gelaev, allegedly harboring in Georgia's Pankisi gorge, where up to 3,700 refugees from Chechnya live at the moment.