The Avtury raid took place on 12-13 July 2004, when a large group of Chechen militants assaulted the Chechen village of Avtury.
After entering the village, separatist guerillas first blocked all entrances to the village and then attacked and seized the buildings of the security forces, inflicting heavy casualties on the defenders. A dozen members of pro-Moscow Chechen police and militia forces who had run out of ammunition were captured at dawn in their base. A car was also ambushed on the road to Avtury and all its passengers were killed.
As the rebels retreated and the government reinforcements arrived, the fighting reportedly continued in the forest outside the village later on the second day.
According to the government sources, at least 18 pro-Moscow fighters and 15 rebels died in the village (20 according to Ramzan Kadyrov). Initially it was claimed eight rebels were killed, and only one body was found at the site according to Memorial. The government declined to disclose the republican and federal losses during the fighting outside of Avtury.
Coordinates: 43°10′N 46°00′E / 43.167°N 46.000°E / 43.167; 46.000
Avtury (Russian: Автуры; Chechen: Ойтур) is a rural locality (a selo) in Shalinsky District of the Chechen Republic, Russia, located on the Khulkhulau River, 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) east of Shali. Population: 14,988 (2010 Census);18,330 (2002 Census).
It was supposedly founded in the 14th century, soon after the area was abandoned by the Mongols and Tatars. During the Caucasian War, Avtury was a combat area between Imam Shamil and the Russian troops.
Hace muchos muchos años en un reino junto al mar
habitó una señorita cuyo nombre era Annabel Lee
y crecía aquella flor sin pensar en nada más
que en amar y ser amada, ser amada por mi.
Éramos sólo dos niños mas tan grande nuestro amor
que los ángeles del cielo nos cogieron envidia
pues no eran tan felices, ni siquiera la mitad
como todo el mundo sabe, en aquel reino junto al mar.
Por eso un viento partió de una oscura nube aquella noche
para helar el corazón de la hermosa Annabel lee
luego vino a llevarsela su noble parentela
para enterrarla en un sepulcro en aquel reino junto al mar.
No luce la luna sin traermela en sueños
ni brilla una estrella sin que vea sus ojos
y así paso la noche acostado con ella
mi querida hermosa, mi vida, mi esposa.
Nuestro amor era más fuerte que el amor de los mayores
que saben más como dicen de las cosas de la vida
ni los ángeles del cielo ni los demonios del mar
separaran jamas mi alma del alma de Annabel Lee.
No luce la luna sin traermela en sueños
ni brilla una estrella sin que vea sus ojos
y así paso la noche acostado con ella
mi querida hermosa, mi vida, mi esposa.
En aquel sepulcro junto al mar
en su tumba junto al mar ruidoso.
Hace muchos muchos años en un reino junto al mar
habitó una señorita cuyo nombre era Annabel Lee
y crecía aquella flor sin pensar en nada más