At least 12 militant groups made up of up to 300 people operate in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the republic’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
“The militant underground [in Dagestan] remains highly active…12 armed groups numbering 250-300 militants continue to operate in the republic,” Interior Minister Abdurashid Magomedov said.
Volatile Dagestan, which borders Chechnya, has seen around half of all militant attacks in Russia in the past two years.
Magomedov said Dagestan registered 96 militant attacks on police officers and 100 shootouts between police and militants in 2011.
The Russian authorities have moved to improve the poor economic conditions in the North Caucasus republics and curb unemployment, which are believed to be the main factors driving local residents to join militant groups.
In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry said last week it would deploy additional units of Special Forces (spetsnaz) to the North Caucasus to strengthen security in the region.
