Moscow Creates Anti-Terrorism Watchdog

Complex security department might appear at Moscow’s government. It will control all anti-terrorism services of the city, and will deal with “military management” during emergency situations, supervising the media, meetings and mass public events. The new department’s budget has not been approved by Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. However, prefectures and municipal councils are already forming anti-terrorism divisions.
The idea of a more thorough anti-terrorism control became relevant after Nikolai Patrushev, head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, announced on January 17 there is threat of terrorist acts in Moscow’s subway and surface transport.

The new department is to carry out all activities for maintaining security. It will include six subdivisions, and its main function will be to coordinate anti-terrorism actions. One of the first tasks for the new department can be making the population familiar with “The recommendations to citizens on actions in case of terrorist act threat”.

Meanwhile, the new department is already being created. Moscow Mayor Luzhkov will soon sign the order for organizing anti-terrorism departments in Moscow’s prefectures and municipal councils. At least 30 openings will be created in prefectures, and no less than 3 employees should be invited to anti-terrorism work in municipal councils.

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All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 13, 2007