The so-called sleeping cells of various terrorist organizations exist in more than 60 countries, including Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), CIS Anti-Terrorism Center Head Vladimir Grigoryev said.
"According to expert estimates, the so-called sleeping cells exist in more than 60 countries. Russia and other CIS member states are no exception," TASS cited him as saying.
According to Grigoryev, sleeping cells are particularly established by militants returning to their home countries from regions where military activities go on. He stressed that however, law enforcement agencies have been effectively preventing militants from arriving in CIS countries in organized groups.
Up to 30% of those who took part in hostilities abroad return to their native countries, he noted, adding that "it is these people who launch a new kind of terrorist activity - the so-called low cost terrorism."
"It includes not only militants’ return to their home countries but also the recruitment of people who had visited countries engulfed in armed conflicts," Grigoryev added.
