COUNTERTERRORISM

Counterterrorism: translation

Russia has a well-developed counterterrorism program, which grew out of late Soviet-era operations directed at minority nationalist and counterrevolutionary organizations. While terrorist attacks under the totalitarian regime were rare, the opening of Russia’s borders, the spread ofethnic violence, the growth of transnationalcrimesyndicates, andnarcoticstrafficking created an environment in the 1990s that madeterrorisma tangible threat to the new Russian Federation. However, spillover from the firstChechen Warproved the greatest catalyst for developing a robust antiterrorism program asIslamistmilitants and other groups targeted civilians in theNorth Caucasus,Moscow, and other parts of the country.

In 1998, the Federal Law on Combating Terrorism was passed to more effectively combat terrorist groups, and clearly delineated the role of theFSBand the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) as the principal agencies charged with counterterrorism. However, the other agencies that assist in the effort include the Foreign Intelligence Service, Federal Protection Service, Defense Ministry, and Federal Border Service. With theapartment bombings, the beginning of the second Chechen War, andVladimirPutin’s ascendance in 1999, counterterrorism policy shifted into high gear, with new powers accruing to the relevant agencies.After theSeptember 11 attacks, the Kremlin began to cooperate more extensively with European, American, and Chinese counterterrorism agencies to address threats emanating from theMiddle East,Central Asia, and elsewhere. Russia has also cooperated withKazakhstan,Afghanistan, andIndiaon international counterterrorism activities.

On the home front,surveillanceexpanded exponentially and themediawere reined in, particularly after theNord-Ost theater siegein 2002. InChechnyaand its surrounding republics, counterterror operations led to frequent accusations of extrajudicial killings, “disappearances,” and torture. Some targeted assassinations, such as that ofIbn al-Khattabin 2002, were also made public as part of Russian strategy. In 2004, two Russian intelligence agents were convicted of killing the former Chechen president Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev in Qatar. In 2006, an updated Law on Counteraction to Terrorism stipulated that the Russian government could act beyond Russian soil to deal with terrorist threats, mirroringUnited Statespolicy enacted underGeorge W.Bush. Over time, Putin has used counterterrorism as a reason for expanding hisvertical of power, particularly after theBeslan crisis, which led to theelectoral reforms of 2004-2005.