Russia tightening the noose around terrorists

Nahla Abdelmonem

Russia works hard to keep the lid on the dangers posed by Islamist organizations, following a unique model through which it also wants to keep rampant turmoil near its borders at bay.

Russian authorities fulfill the objectives of this strategy by staging repeated preventive strikes on extremist strongholds.

On November 25, Russian authorities foiled a plan by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to carry out bomb attacks in Russian capital Moscow.

Russian police raided the hideout of people suspected of planning the attacks in Vladimir administrative center which is located in close proximity to Moscow.

Two of those arrested hail from central Asia, Russian authorities said.

They prepared explosive devices that were in their possession at the time of their arrest.

The members of the same cell also worked to recruit Russians within their cell, the Russian authorities said.

Preventive strikes

The way the authorities dealt with the abovementioned cell sums up the Russian counterterrorism strategy.

Russia succeeded in directing one blow after another to ISIS, while the terrorist organization expanded in other countries, using poor security conditions in these countries.

In May this year, Russian authorities busted an ISIS cell that sought hiding in the forests of Khasavyurt city.

The cell planned a series of terrorist attacks and assassinations of some Russian politicians.

On May 13, Russian police raided a hideout of a group of terrorists in Ingushetia on the border with Chechnya. The police also arrested the commander of the group who was involved in previous attacks.