At?Severny Airport, Acting President told reporters he intended to?chair a?meeting with the?leadership of?the?federal forces in?Chechnya and?another one with the?representatives of?local authorities to?discuss social and?economic aspects of?the?situation in?the?republic.
Speaking to?journalists, Mr Putin voiced a?call to?militants to?surrender, referring in?that regard to?an?act of?amnesty approved by?the?State Duma. The?Acting President said the?Russian military would definitely accomplish their mission of?elimination of?the?militants persisting in?armed resistance.
Mr Putin arrived in?Grozny on?a?SU-27 fighter jet, seated in?the?co-pilot’s seat, and?during the?flight he at?some stage took over the?flight’s control.
Prior to?flying to?Grozny, the?Acting President instructed Mikhail Kasyanov, First Deputy Prime Minister, to?chair a?meeting with Deputy Prime Ministers and?heads of?military and?security agencies scheduled for?that day. He also instructed Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko to?hold a?telephone conference with regional governors to?discuss back pays to?public employees.