STAVROPOL, March 28. /TASS/. Law enforcement officers in Russia’s southern Stavropol Region have foiled 12 terrorist attacks that were in the works over the year, Andrey Mishagin, head of the regional branch of the Russian Interior Ministry, said.

"Twelve terrorist attacks on transport infrastructure facilities, public authorities and places of the mass congregation of people were thwarted at the preparation stage," the senior police official said during a report on police operations in 2023.

According to him, 14 participants of terrorist organizations were detained in the region during the year. "Most of them were supporters of pro-Ukrainian nationalist organizations," Mishagin added.

He pointed out that the regional Interior Ministry department recorded 60 crimes of a terrorist nature over the year, together with employees of other law enforcement agencies. "They are related to the placement on the Internet of information justifying terrorism, financing terrorist activities, and joining the ranks of terrorist organizations, as well as making preparations to commit terrorist acts," he explained.

He added that 28 extremist crimes were uncovered in the region. "These are crimes involving recruitment for the Ukrainian organization ‘Right Sector’ (banned in Russia), calls for violent actions against the police and authorities, statements humiliating a person’s honor and dignity on the basis of nationality, as well as the display of prohibited symbols," Mishagin said.