12 persons perished in armed conflict in Northern Caucasus within a week

During February 21-27, the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus took away at least 12 lives. At least 9 persons were injured during this period. These are the results of calculations made by the "Caucasian Knot" based on its own materials and information from other open sources.

The death roll includes nine suspects of involvement in the armed underground, two civilians and one soldier of internal troops. Among those injured there are eight power agents and one possible IAF (illegal armed formation) member.

These seven days saw three explosions, seven armed clashes and one attempt on a state official. The counterterrorist operation (CTO) regime was introduced over a large territory of Kabardino-Balkaria.

All the three last week's explosions took place in Dagestan and killed one person; according to one version he was a militant who was killed by his own bomb. The charred body of the Gubden resident was found on February 28 inside a blow-up car.

The last week's armed clashes killed at least nine and injuring eight persons. Eight suspected militants and one soldier were among the casualties. Four fights burst out in the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic (KBR), two in Chechnya, and one in Dagestan.

Attacks on peaceful residents continue in Northern Caucasus. Thus, in a suburb of the capital of Dagestan a shopkeeper, who sold alcohol, was shot dead. At night on February 26, in Nalchik, grenades were thrown into the courtyards of relatives of two searched suspected militants; and a premise was shelled located near one of the fuelling station, where, supposedly, Muslims were praying. Many local people tend to believe that these incidents could be organized by the illegal "anti-Wahhabite" grouping "Black Hawks" that has recently appeared in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Attacks on state officials are also incessant. In Dagestan, in the village of Krasnoarmeyskoye, Kirov District of Makhachkala, an explosive device was triggered near the house of the head of village administration. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

During the week, at least 21 persons were detained on suspicion of involvement in IAFs or of helping them: 12 persons in Chechnya and 9 - in the Republic of Dagestan. Two of them were registered as those who pled guilty and surrendered.