Aleksey Galkin
Encyclopedia
Alexey Viktorovich Galkin is a former Russian GRU
officer. A senior lieutenant of the GRU
, Alexei Galkin said, whilst being torture
d by Chechen separatists, commanded by Abu Movsaev, that the apartment bombing in Buynaksk
were organized by a team of twelve GRU officers and ordered by GRU director Valentin Korabelnikov
The interview of Galkin was conducted by journalist Robert Young Pelton
, under guidance of Abu Movsaev, who wrote about it in his book Three Worlds Gone Mad. Galkin later escaped from Chechen separatists and stated that he was tortured to produce this confession
, with amongst other things rifle butts. Together with Pachomov they were driven to Grozny.
A month after being captured, Galkin was introduced to two men. The first man named Hasan - a commander of Shamil Basaev's secret security service and the second - Abu Movsaev - director of state security department of the self-proclaimed Ichkerian Republic. They interrogated Galkin for information, asking questions such as: "What are Putin's thoughts? What plans does he have on the war in the Chechen Republic?" Galkin's responses angered his captors, prompting further beatings.
reported that no evidence of Galkin's torture were present when he was interviewed, although, he was thin, emaciated and his bore bruises from being bound for so long. Pelton interviewed Galkin and asked if he had been tortured or mistreated. Galkin was nervous, and when Pelton asked him why, he said with humor that he had never been on CNN before referring to his career as a spy. Musayev twice interrupted Galkin when Pelton asked whether Galkin voluntarily confessed and whether he is afraid of something, saying that "You don't need to answer this question".
Pelton ignored Musayev's attempts to control statements and made the full tape available to CNN and the public record. It is important to note that in Pelton's book "Hunter Hammer and Heaven" Pelton had no agenda or knowledge of Galkin's condition, role or existence and interviewed many people. When Pelton left the bunker he noted that Galkin was relaxing on a cot with the fighters watching a Chuck Norris movie with Chinese subtitles. Later attempts by the Russians to alter this unbiased eyewitness report included insisting that Galkin did not exist, that Galkin had died anda Novaya Gazeta article was written to suggest that he was tortured to make his confession. This report included speculations by experts on his condition that do not match the statements made by Galkin in his original interview.
GRU
GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
officer. A senior lieutenant of the GRU
GRU
GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
, Alexei Galkin said, whilst being torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
d by Chechen separatists, commanded by Abu Movsaev, that the apartment bombing in Buynaksk
Russian apartment bombings
The Russian apartment bombings were a series of explosions that hit four apartment blocks in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk in September 1999, killing 293 people and injuring 651. The explosions occurred in Buynaksk on 4 September, Moscow on 9 and 13 September, and...
were organized by a team of twelve GRU officers and ordered by GRU director Valentin Korabelnikov
Valentin Korabelnikov
General of the Army Valentin Vladimirovich Korabelnikov is a Russian general, best known for being director of GRU for 12 years....
The interview of Galkin was conducted by journalist Robert Young Pelton
Robert Young Pelton
Robert Young Pelton , is an author, journalist and documentary filmmaker. Pelton is considered an adventurer and a "witness" to conflict. Pelton is known for overcoming extraordinary obstacles in his search for the truth...
, under guidance of Abu Movsaev, who wrote about it in his book Three Worlds Gone Mad. Galkin later escaped from Chechen separatists and stated that he was tortured to produce this confession
Capture by Chechen separatists
Galkin was captured during the Second Chechen military campaign by Chechen separatists group of Abu Movsaev near Mozdok on October 3, 1999. Together with Colonel Ivanov Zariko Amiranovich and senior lieutenant Vladimir Pachomov they were attempting to evacuate the relatives of Chechen, Russian Army collaborator Visani, who asked the Russian Army to evacuate his younger brother. After crossing the border, they were ambushed and surrounded by separatists, after which they were repeatedly beatenTorture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, with amongst other things rifle butts. Together with Pachomov they were driven to Grozny.
Torture
Galkin was kept by militants in a dark cellar without food or water and regularly beaten by his captors. Galkins arms were handcuffed and bound with barbed wire and fastened to metallic pipe. Galkin head was beaten so severely, that he had flares in his eyes. His captors prohibited him from raising his bleeding head, beating him when he attempted to raise it. These beatings were severe enough for him to be given a rag for his wounds.A month after being captured, Galkin was introduced to two men. The first man named Hasan - a commander of Shamil Basaev's secret security service and the second - Abu Movsaev - director of state security department of the self-proclaimed Ichkerian Republic. They interrogated Galkin for information, asking questions such as: "What are Putin's thoughts? What plans does he have on the war in the Chechen Republic?" Galkin's responses angered his captors, prompting further beatings.
Statements on Alexey Galkin by eyewitness Robert Young Pelton
Robert Young PeltonRobert Young Pelton
Robert Young Pelton , is an author, journalist and documentary filmmaker. Pelton is considered an adventurer and a "witness" to conflict. Pelton is known for overcoming extraordinary obstacles in his search for the truth...
reported that no evidence of Galkin's torture were present when he was interviewed, although, he was thin, emaciated and his bore bruises from being bound for so long. Pelton interviewed Galkin and asked if he had been tortured or mistreated. Galkin was nervous, and when Pelton asked him why, he said with humor that he had never been on CNN before referring to his career as a spy. Musayev twice interrupted Galkin when Pelton asked whether Galkin voluntarily confessed and whether he is afraid of something, saying that "You don't need to answer this question".
Pelton ignored Musayev's attempts to control statements and made the full tape available to CNN and the public record. It is important to note that in Pelton's book "Hunter Hammer and Heaven" Pelton had no agenda or knowledge of Galkin's condition, role or existence and interviewed many people. When Pelton left the bunker he noted that Galkin was relaxing on a cot with the fighters watching a Chuck Norris movie with Chinese subtitles. Later attempts by the Russians to alter this unbiased eyewitness report included insisting that Galkin did not exist, that Galkin had died anda Novaya Gazeta article was written to suggest that he was tortured to make his confession. This report included speculations by experts on his condition that do not match the statements made by Galkin in his original interview.