Aleksey Galkin Alexey Viktorovich Galkin ( ) is a former Russian GRU officer . A senior lieutenant of the GRU , Alexei Galkin said , whilst being tortured 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 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 beaten , 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 Pelton 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 " . Escape and publications in Novaya Gazeta . In January , after the New Year , Galkin and Pachomov , were released by their captors . Having found weapons wandering alone , they encountered a group of militants and exchanged fire with them . Galkin had also received gunshot wounds to both arms . The escapees were discovered by Ryazan airborne regiment . Doctors diagnosed Galkin with four broken ribs ( bone fragments also had entered into his lungs ) , his jaw was broken in three places and he had also suffered brain damage . Galkin retired from the Army due to his health condition in summer 2002 after rehabilitation course .