Explosion in Novy Khushet does not prove change in militants' tactics, experts assert

In Dagestan, an explosion near a police car in the village of Novy Khushet does not indicate the militants' transition from armed clashes to techniques of sabotage, and it is not possible to draw a conclusion about weakening of the "Islamic State" (IS) (banned in Russia) in Northern Caucasus. This opinion was voiced by experts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot".

This is the fifth attack on law enforcers committed in the vicinity of the village of Novy Khushet during five years; however, the police qualified the incident as an act of hooliganism.

According to Yana Amelina, the Secretary-Coordinator of the Caucasian Geopolitical Club, it is not possible to speak about some kind of new tactics used by the IS in the Caucasus, since the current car explosion is not the first case of such kind. However, Yana Amelina believes that the IS does not have any real power in the region.

In Northern Caucasus, the IS joins people who can be described as the remains of the "Imarat Kavkaz" (banned in Russia). This was stated by Orkhan Djemal, the "Rain" special correspondent.

According to Alexei Malashenko, Chairman of the programme "Religion, Society and Security" of the Moscow Carnegie Centre, at present, we cannot talk about the presence of a unified militant force in the region. However, he believes that a strong militant sabotage unit may appear in the future.

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