Russian MIA: about 500 militants operate in Northern Caucasus

According to General Nikolai Rogozhkin, Commander-in-Chief of Internal Troops of the Russian MIA, up to 500 militants, mainly young men aged 25-28, can currently operate in the territory of Northern Caucasus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in late March 2008 Mr Rogozhkin gave similar figures. Then, according to his story, some 400-500 militants acted in the territory of Northern Caucasus.

According to the General, with approach of spring, militants have become more active in the region, although, as he believes, they have no force to undertake any broad-scale actions.

The Commander has stated that militants' formations are financially fed by certain "outside forces," the ITAR-TASS reports.

In Northern Caucasus, the armed underground is opposed by 23,000 Internal Troops soldiers, including more than 1000 Chechens as two Internal Troops Battalions, Mr Rogozhkin has reported.

The "Interfax" reports with reference to his data that in 2009 about 200 militants were liquidated by power agents in Northern Caucasus, 600 more were detained on suspicion of belonging to the armed underground.

Let us note here that according to the "Caucasian Knot", only in Ingushetia, Dagestan and Chechnya, if calculated from open sources, 436 suspected militants were killed in 2009, and 278 more were detained.