LEWISTON – An author who worked as a surgeon during the first and second Chechen wars will give two free lectures Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Khassan Baiev, author of “The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire,” will speak at 11:30 a.m. in Room 170 at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College. He will speak at 7 p.m. the same day in Room 204 of the Carnegie Science Building at Bates College.

In his book, Baiev writes about being a wanted man by both Russian special forces and Chechen extremists. He also discusses the horror and suffering during the wars.

Since his arrival in the U.S., Baiev has become an outspoken advocate for human rights, focusing his efforts on the International Committee for the Children of Chechnya. He has been featured in The New York Times, on National Public Radio and by several international media outlets. His speech is in conjunction with an International Human Rights Day Celebration on the Lewiston-Auburn campus. Copies of Baiev’s book will be available for purchase.

A complete schedule of events and more information is available online at usm.maine.edu/lac/events, or call 753-6574 for more information.