Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Yevgeny Gusarov, was quoted by Interfax as saying that Moscow "does not need" a mediator between the Russian authorities and the leaders of Chechnya, where federal forces are engaged in a massive military campaign to crush Islamic militants.

"Mediation between the (federal) centre and subjects of the federation is completely incomprehensible," Gusarov added.

The offer came as a troika of senior EU officials was in Moscow for talks with Gusarov's boss Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister, to discuss the refugee crisis sparked by the conflict.

The EU team was expected to deliver a tough message to Russian officials on the Chechen crisis, raising the plight of tens of thousands of Chechen refugees and human rights issues.

It also intended to offer Moscow the "good offices" ofthe European Union and the council of Europe in resolving the conflict, the head of the council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, said in Strasbourg on Wednesday.