Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has hosted a meeting with authorized presidential envoys to federal districts to discuss the fight against terrorism.
The main topic is cooperation between the federal and regional structures to coordinate work against terrorism and crime and the role of the authorized presidential envoys, ITAR-TASS reports.
General Prosecutor Yuri Chaika, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Kremlin Administration head Sergey Naryshkin and his deputy Vladislav Surkov, Vice-Premier and authorized presidential envoy to the North Caucasian Federal District Alexander Khloponin, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, FSB head Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Investigation Committee Alexander Bastrykin, authorized presidential envoys Georgy Poltavchenko, Ulya Klebanov, Vladimir Ustinov, Grigory Rapota, Nikolai Vinnichenko, Victor Tolokonsky and Victor Ishayev were at the meeting.
Vestnik Kavkaza reported earlier that Russia's President Medvedev held a session with the National Counter-Terrorism Committee in Vladikavkaz on February 22. He ordered government members to develop a schedule for regional heads to have regular meetings in the North Caucasian Federal District.
The president demanded that the special services eliminate persistent militants. He arrived in the North Caucasus after the terrorist attacks in Kabardino-Balkaria. A cablecar system was blown up and a tourist bus attacked. A vehicle with explosives was found near the Prielbrusye Hotel. Medvedev believes that it was criminals who attacked the cablecar system. He believes that foreign terrorism may be involved.
Alexander Khloponin, authorized presidential envoy to the NCFD said that people believe that the terrorist attacks were organized by bandits, radical extremists and even believe it to be a US-Turkish conspiracy.
The president reminded the meeting about the law on police, which comes into force on March 1, 2011. The document will change the name of the Russian law-enforcers from “militia” to “police”. 20% of police officers will have been made redundant by January 1, 2012. The number of law-enforcers in the North Caucasus will increase.
Medvedev reminded those present that he ordered the work with judges to continue in April 2010 at a council on terrorism in Dagestan.
He said that there have been no radical improvements in the fight against terrorism. 332 bandits, including over 40 leaders were killed and over 600 militants were detained. The president ordered additional support to be provided to families of dead police officers.
FSB head Alexander Bortnikov says that the measures taken in Kabardino-Balkaria are insufficient. He noted that he had ordered tougher measures to be taken and executed with more energy and ambition. The FSB chief added that they are working with the population and explaining their work. Some crimes were aimed at demoralizing the population.
