Russia: Terrorists are trying to enter former Soviet countries
(VOVWORLD) - Terrorists from the Middle East are attempting to penetrate countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) after defeats in Syria and Iraq, said Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Russian Federal Security Service on Tuesday.
 The Islamic State militants (Photo:AFP) |
Bortnikov said terrorists, including Russians, Central Asians, Europeans and North Africans, are moving from Afghanistan to the CIS via Central Asia. He added that terrorists, disguised as refugees, labor migrants, and tourists, are trying to take advantage of the visa-free regime and other simplified mechanisms to cross Central Asian borders. About 20,000 citizens of CIS countries are suspected of involvement in terrorist or religious extremist organizations, he said.