HRC "Memorial": decrease of power agents' losses in Northern Caucasus is caused by departure of radical volunteers to Syria

During the spring of 2014, in the armed conflict in Northern Caucasus, employees of law enforcement bodies suffered fewer losses than in the winter of 2013-2014, note authors of the quarterly information-analytical bulletin prepared by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial".

According to calculations of the authors of the bulletin, in March-May 2014 power agents lost 12 persons, some 30 others were wounded. At the same time, according to rights defenders, during the three winter months (December 2013-February 2014), power agents 20 persons, and 38 others were wounded; and as compared with the spring of 2013 (27 killed and 87 wounded persons), the figures for the spring of 2014 more than halved.

Rights defenders associate the reduction of the number of casualties among power agents not only with the "extremely tough job of law enforcement bodies of the Russian Federation, but also with the departure of a part of radically-tuned cultural and religious population to Syria."

The review pays particular attention to the situation in the most troubled republic – Dagestan. The so-called "Gimry Agreement" is considered – an agreement reached by the authorities with the community of the Dagestani village of Gimry, from which, according to law enforcers, members of illegal armed formations (IAFs) are constantly recruiting new young militants.