21.   Russian civilian aviation, with its aging airplanes and the often poor air and ground safety procedures, is plagued by accidents.

22.   Rebels stage daily raids and plant mines, while Russian aviation and artillery pound villages and forests believed to house militants.

23.   Russian aviation officials acknowledge that some small airlines have faced difficulties with maintenance, but claim the problems have been solved and aviation safety standards have been preserved.

24.   Russian aviation officials, however, insist it is safe and meets international air standards.

25.   Russian aviation and artillery pounded districts in the southeastern mountains suspected to be hiding rebels.

26.   Russian aviation officials had said recently that aircraft safety was improving following attempts to boost inspection standards.

27.   Russian aviation targeted suspected rebel bases in the Nozhai-Yurt region, and artillery pounded Nozhai-Yurt and Vedeno regions in Chechnya southern mountains.

28.   Russian aviation and artillery pounded the southern Nozhai-Yurt district.

29.   Russian aviation has been plagued by a series of military and civil airplane crashes in recent years.

30.   Shah-cheraghi is currently visiting Moscow at the invitation of Russian aviation authorities.