Babitsky speaks of 'Russian captivity'

The Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky has been speaking in Moscow about his experience in captivity after going missing in Chechnya for more than a month.

Mr Babitsky, who works for the American-sponsored radio station Radio Liberty, was released on Monday night after surfacing in the hands of the Russian authorities in Dagestan last Friday.

He was held in Dagestan on charges of possessing a false Azerbaijani passport, but released hours after acting President Vladimir Putin said the reporter should be freed.

'Torture'

Mr Babitsky was first arrested on the outskirts of the Chechen capital Grozny in mid-January, in connection with what was seen as his anti-Russian coverage of the Chechen war.

He said in an interview on the Radio Liberty's website that he had then been taken to the Russian Chernokozovo detention camp in northern Chechnya, where he was beaten.

But Mr Babitsky, speaking to the private Russian TV channel, NTV, has said he believes his captors in Chechnya were linked to Russian law-enforcement bodies.

He told the station he had heard the screams of a woman being tortured at the Russian camp, adding that another man had been beaten black and blue by guards at Chernokozovo.

"We've all read about concentration camps during the Stalin era, we all know about the German camps - it's exactly the same there," said Mr Babitsky, who appeared tired and drawn during the interview, conducted in his home.

The Russian authorities have said that Mr Babitsky was handed over to Chechen rebels in exchange for captured Russian soldiers.

Camp allegations

Human rights groups say they have allegations of former Chernokozovo detainees being beaten, raped and killed in the camp.

Russia denies the allegations and, according to Reuters news agency, reporters who visited the centre on Monday saw no signs of ill-treatment.

Mr Babitsky was flown from Dagestan on Monday night on a plane he said he believed belonged to the Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo.

But he said he was released on condition that he remained in Moscow pending an investigation by the authorities.

Speaking on the state-owned television station Radio Television Russia (RTR), the journalist said his release had taken him by surprise.

"A few hours ago, I never thought this would happen. All I want to do now is rest."

International pressure had also been building up for his release.

Correspondents say Mr Babitsky's in-depth reports on the Chechen situation have long angered the Russian authorities, who have accused him of being a rebel sympathiser and collaborator.

His disappearance and handover to the Chechen side, in exchange for three Russian servicemen, was interpreted as a crude attempt by the Kremlin to silence a critic.