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Law-enforcement forces re-grouped in Dagestan as scheduled

Such decisions may be taken only by the supreme commander in chief of the country's Armed Forces, he noted

MAKHACHKALA, March 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Scheduled re-grouping of interior troops and assigned policemen is carried out regularly in Dagestan, depending on the operational situation, Dagestani Security Council Secretary Magomed Baachilov told Itar-Tass on Monday.

There is no sudden transfer of any large units of interior troops from the neighbouring Chechen Republic, where they are permanently deployed. Such decisions may be taken only by the supreme commander in chief of the country's Armed Forces, he noted.

According to the republic's Security Council, there are five operational zones in Dagestan, where units of interior troops and assigned policemen from various Russian regions are deployed. Such zones are in Kizlyar, the village of Belidzhi in the Magaramkent district, the Untsukul, Tsumada and Sergokala districts.

Two more zones may be formed in the Kizilyurt and Karabudakhkent districts, and additional temporary police stations may be set up, Baachilov said.

In the neighbouring Chechen Republic, in the present situation, there is an excessive contingent of various power structures, the official noted.

The scheduled re-grouping of the forces will allow not leaving the country's central regions insufficiently staffed, from where policemen are regularly sent to the Caucasus, he added.

Dagestan is the largest republic in the North Caucasus for its territory (three times larger than Chechnya) and for the population (about 3,000,000 people). The forces of the republic's Interior Ministry are about 18,000-people strong. Aside from public order ensuring, the interior troops participate in special operations.

So, with the further re-deployment of interior troops and other special units in the republic, local police will be able to carry out tasks more effectively, Baachilov noted.

Earlier, some media reported that 25,000 of the personnel of interior troops and other security services moved to Dagestan. The media supposed it might be preparation for special operations against gunmen.

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