More than 500 armed militants in Chechnya and other parts of Russia’s troubled North Caucasus surrendered to authorities as part of an amnesty that expired Monday, a Russian official said. Authorities proposed the amnesty last summer as part of efforts to secure peace and normalcy in Chechnya. The offer, which expired at midnight, promised that surrendering militants would avoid prosecution unless they were suspected of grave crimes such as murder, rape or terrorism. Full Story