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Chechnya sets up security unit to fight Syria's extremists

February 10, 2014 at 11:05 am

Chechnya’s President Ramzan Kadyrov said that his country has established a special security unit to deal with ‘Islamic extremists’ on the North Caucasus republic’s territory, and abroad, if the need arises.


Russia’s RIA Novosti news reported Kadyrov as saying that the move comes in response to several online videos which reveal Islamists, who are fighting against government troops in Syria, threatening to move to the North Caucasus region when the war in Syria ends to participate in “terrorist and subversive activities in the volatile region.”

Kadyrov said “the Government and Chechnyan people are increasingly concerned about these threats and consider them a serious challenge to the security of the Russian republic. We are not going to listen to those threats and watch this plague encroaching on the Russian border. That is why Chechnya’s law enforcement agencies are taking an array of preventive measures.”

The Chechnyan leader said that members of the special unit are ready to intervene in the Syrian conflict, if such operations are authorised by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On an order from the Commander in Chief, the unit will begin neutralising those who threaten Russia whilst in Syria.”