Law enforcement agencies are unable to cope with rampant crime in Russia's volatile North Caucasus, the general prosecutor said on Thursday.
"Measures taken by the authorities of the [North Caucasus Federal] District to bring the situation back to normal have not produced the needed results, while law enforcement agencies' actions do not measure up to the level of the threat that has evolved," Yury Chaika said.
He said, in particular, that a number of high-profile crimes have yet to be solved in Dagestan and other parts of the federal district.
He stressed that "corruption has affected virtually all levels of government, law enforcement and judiciary bodies," adding that bribes had been growing exponentially.
Chaika said the level of crime was especially worrying against the backdrop of uncontrolled trafficking in arms and explosives.
"In 2009, crimes involving the use of firearms grew the most in Ingushetia (92%) and Dagestan (65%)," he said.
Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge of militant violence lately, with frequent attacks on police and officials.
The Kremlin has pledged to wage "a ruthless fight" against militant groups but also acknowledged a need to tackle unemployment, organized crime, clan rivalry and corruption as causes of the ongoing violence.
YESSENTUKI, February 25 (RIA Novosti)
