Speaking at a Police Day ceremony, Ruslan Alkhanov said grave crimes in the North Caucasus republic had declined 22.4% and murders 46.1% year-on-year. "Attacks on law enforcement officers decreased 6.4% compared to the same period of last year."
Chechnya was devastated by two military campaigns, in 1994-1996 and 1999-2001, after which Moscow significantly scaled back its military presence in the province. However, sporadic fighting and terrorist attacks still occur in the area, despite a widely publicized amnesty campaign announced by Russian authorities.
The amnesty followed the killing by federal troops of Chechen warlord and number one terrorist Shamil Basayev, who was behind the 2004 Beslan school siege and other atrocities.
More than 600 militants in Chechnya and adjacent provinces reportedly surrendered their arms last year in response to a six-month amnesty declared by the Russian government on July 15 for those not involved in any serious crimes.
