Dagestan: Russia: Anti-terrorist operation in the Caucasus ended

The authorities have lifted the state of emergency imposed in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus after a series of attacks. “Because the threat to the life and limb of citizens has been eliminated, the decision was made to end the anti-terrorist operation in accordance with the law ‘On Combating Terrorism’,” the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said in a statement.

According to information from the governor of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, more than 15 police officers were killed in the clashes with the attackers during the night. There were also dead civilians. Melikov did not, however, give the exact number.

What happened?

The previous evening, assassins had attacked synagogues and churches in Dagestan’s regional capital Makhachkala and the city of Derbent, which is 100 kilometers south of it. In Derbent, the synagogue went up in flames. The fire could only be extinguished after hours. An Orthodox priest was killed in a church. The security forces were also targeted. The assassins fired on a police station.

The authorities immediately launched a large-scale manhunt and blocked the exits from Makhachkala. They later managed to block the terrorists, it was said. According to official figures, five attackers were killed, although the media had previously reported six. However, there were also other victims on the police side in the exchange of fire.

There is still no information about the exact background to the attacks, although Melikov stated that they were directed from abroad. Individual politicians in Dagestan and Moscow have already blamed Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. According to media reports, three of the attackers are the sons and nephews of a high-ranking official in the region. The man was interrogated during the night. Three days of mourning have been declared in Dagestan because of the series of attacks.