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Number of terrorism-related crimes in Russia down 50% — FSB chief

However the situation still remains tense, Federal Security Service (FSB) Head Alexander Bortnikov said at the meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee

MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. The number of terrorism-related crimes in Russia has dropped 50% in 2014, compared with last year, but the situation remains tense, Federal Security Service (FSB) Head Alexander Bortnikov said on Tuesday.

“As a result of coordinated law enforcement and preventive measures, the number of terrorism-related crimes has declined more than two-fold this year, compared with the same period last year,” Bortnikov said.

“However, the situation in Russia in the sphere of counteracting terrorism continues to be tense,” Bortnikov told the meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.

A total of 69 terrorism-related crimes have been committed in the country this year which have killed 41 and injured 125 law enforcement officers. Most of the crimes were reported in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, he said.

According to Bortnikov, the deaths include those among the police officers who lost their lives to prevent a terrorist attack that could have led to dozens of casualties among the civilians celebrating the City Day in Chechnya’s capital Grozny on October 5.

A “suspicious” young man blew himself up as police officers tried to inspect him. A total of five police officers were killed and 12 others were wounded in the explosion.

The FSB chief said an effort is underway to develop the mechanisms of protecting the information space in Russia and improve the basis of propaganda and counterpropaganda as part of a complex plan to fight against the terrorism ideology. A legal basis has been established in Russia to meet the goals of combating terrorism, Bortnikov said.