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Russia's security chief warns of growing terrorist activity in Siberia

The Siberian Federal District launched 56 criminal cases for terror-related crimes in the nine months of 2018

NOVOSIBIRSK, October 24. /TASS/. Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has noted a growing level of terror activity and a high probability of the infiltration of international terrorists in Siberia’s regions.

"The issues we will study today are also important for providing security for citizens and the state. It is caused by the growing level of terrorist activity in the region and the high probability of the infiltration of members of international terrorist organizations in Siberian regions, as well as the growth of the intensity of labor migration from the Central Asian countries," Patrushev said at a conference in Novosibirsk on Wednesday.

The Siberian Federal District launched 56 criminal cases for terror-related crimes in the nine months of 2018, he said. Russian Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Siberian Federal District Sergei Menyailo noted that the number of such crimes grew by 70% compared to the same time frame last year, whereas the average level across the country dropped by 10.5%.

"The incoming information shows that facilities located in the district’s entities are in the sight of international terrorist and extremist organizations," the Security Council secretary stated.

He noted that the activity of intelligence services in light of this should be preventive and be aimed at eliminating the causes and conditions that contribute to the commitment of terror attacks.

The Security Council secretary reported that in the first half of 2018 prosecutors detected more than 9,000 violations of counter-terrorism laws in Siberia. In addition, more than one-third of facilities - mainly cultural, sports and religious facilities - and territories in the district failed to comply with the anti-terrorism security requirements, which is due, in particular, to the lack of funds in regional and local budgets, the Security Council secretary said.