MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) – A cooperative effort by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) with its international counterparts thwarted a series of planned terrorist attacks on venues at the Sochi Winter Olympics, FSB chief Aleksandr Bortnikov told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
“One of the examples is joint efforts by the FSB and its colleagues from the United States, Austria, France, Germany and Georgia in relation to a group of people planning terrorist attacks on Olympic venues in Sochi. Together with our foreign counterparts we managed to thwart these attacks,” Bortnikov said.
The FSB chief stressed that terrorism is currently understood to be a transnational crime, with over 70 countries around the globe facing terrorist plots last year. Russia’s strong stand on terrorism and its strict counterterrorism efforts have made it a prime target for terrorists.
Bortnikov also said the country is currently reviewing legislation in an attempt to increase the effectiveness of counterterrorism.
“In the wake of recent events in Syria, new norms have been introduced to the country’s legal code stipulating harsh punishment for training in terrorist camps, as well as setting up, leading or financing terrorist organizations,” he said.
Bortnikov added that 28 terrorist attacks have already been averted this year by a series of counterterrorism operations conducted by Russian security forces under the supervision of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee.
