Makhachkala residents find intensified security measures by New Year reasonable

The New Year celebrations in central of Makhachkala were poorly visited and passed under reinforced police control. The interviewed citizens said that the strengthening of police units helped them feel safer.

For security reasons, on the eve of holidays, the venues of New Year celebrations and citizens' mass stay were guarded by reinforced police units. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has treated the operative situation in the city as "complicated", reporting a threat of terror acts.

A few hours before the New Year, the central square of the city was blocked by reinforced police units; the entrance thereto was only through metal detector frames.

The Makhachkala residents, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on December 31, said they did not treat such measures as excessive.

According to the spouses Magomed and Amina, they reacted "very positively" to the strict controls at the entrance to the square. As for the festivities as such, they were successful, said townspeople.

The festivities in the central square of Makhachkala were attended by about 200 people, said a source from the press service of the city administration. According to his story, the majority of citizens have preferred to celebrate the holiday at home.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.