The activity of more than two dozen cells of international terrorist organizations engaged in recruiting fighters has been suppressed in the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States this year. Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolay Patrushev said this on Wednesday at a meeting via videoconference with his colleagues from other CIS countries.
"Through joint efforts, 22 cells of international terrorist organizations were neutralized in 2020, the members of which were engaged in recruitment and transfer of citizens of Russia and other CIS countries to foreign training camps for militants," Patrushev said.
He added that the activities of "more than 160 active functionaries of international terrorist organizations" have been suppressed, more than 110 of which have been expelled from Russia and more than 40 have been convicted. "According to the materials presented by the Russian side, more than 40 members and associates of international terrorist organizations have been arrested by foreign partners. Based on the information received, more than 950 foreigners involved in terrorist activities are denied entry to our country," Patrushev said.
The Secretary of the Security Service of the Russian Federation noted that many crimes of extremist and terrorist nature were committed using the Internet (more than half of 442 extremist crimes registered during the first half of the year and almost one-fifth of 1183 crimes of terrorist nature). "Over 2 thousand Internet resources, including groups in social networks, are put under control. More than 31 thousand Internet pages were blocked, about 3 thousand materials, recognized by courts as extremist and prohibited for distribution, were removed", he said.
Destructive influence of foreign countries
Patrushev stated that the agenda of the meeting included a discussion of the destructive influence of foreign countries in the Commonwealth space. "Today we will consider the following topics: countering new biological threats in the CIS space, including taking into account the experience in combating coronavirus, the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the security of Central Asian countries, challenges in the information sphere, evolution of forms and methods of the destructive influence of foreign countries in the CIS space," he said. Patrushev added that he would also hear about artificial intelligence and its importance in national security.
"We will have to work out joint approaches to ensure security in the CIS region taking into account current challenges and threats," the Secretary of the RF Security Council said.
The event is attended by the Secretaries of Security Councils of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Deputy State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus, the Ambassador of Moldova to Russia, the Secretary of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan. Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Stanislav Zas, and the CIS Executive Secretary, Sergei Lebedev, are invited to attend the meeting.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: NAC
Based on materials from TASS