MOSCOW, December 14 (Itar-Tass) —— During counterterrorism missions in Russia during the current year, 360 militants were killed, Advisor to chairman of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee /NAK/ Andrei Przhezdomsky told a news conference at the Foreign Ministry on Friday.
“99 percent are in the North Caucasus,” he said adding that acts of terror had occurred in Tatarstan, too, but the number of killed militants there was “only a few.”
At the same time, he spoke about the tendency to lower victims among peaceful residents during acts of terror.
“This year, 58 people have died. It is a high number, too. But the scale has lowered by two times – in 2011 the number was 128,” he said.
He explained the result was achieved “at the cost of lives of police and special services’ staff as well by major counter-terrorism actions.”
During every counter-terrorism mission, people from neighbouring houses are being evacuated, and in every case experts try to start negotiations with blocked bandits, including cases where they are attracting bandits’ relatives.
“In some cases, we manage to persuade them to surrender,” he added.