MAKHACHKALA, January 25. /TASS/. The counter-terrorist operation regime has been declared in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, a spokesperson for National Anti-Terrorism Committee’s operational headquarters in Dagestan told TASS on Monday.

"The counter-terrorist operation regime was declared at 9:30 am in the settlement of Andi in Dagestan’s Botlikhsky district. Search for militants is underway," the spokesperson said.

The Dagestan Republic is part of the North Caucasus Federal District. It also comprises Kabardino-Balkaria, Ingushetia, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Chechnya, North Ossetia and the Stavropol Territory.

According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, 243 gunmen were neutralized in Russia in 2014, including 38 chieftains, 644 militants and their henchmen were detained. Security forces conducted 74 counter-terrorism operations in the North Caucasus , seizing 272 home-made explosives and a significant number of firearms, with 219 criminals becoming subject to criminal penalties.