Indiscriminate shootings are definitely not surprising in Russia. Many indiscriminate terrorist attacks have been carried out in Russia, leading to concerns. The Moscow Metro bombings in 2010, the Domodedovo International Airport bombing in 2011 and the St. Petersburg Metro bombing in 2017 are some terrorist attacks in Russia. But such attacks often lead to the deaths of many. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, a deadly — and shocking — shooting by an armed group of extremists at a concert at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow took place this week, leading to the death of around 140. Four suspects have in the meantime been charged with committing the terrorist attack.
It is notable that various reasons are responsible for terrorist attacks in Russia. The government’s heavy-handed approach to counterterrorism, extremist ideologies or religious extremism and separatist movements in regions like Chechnya and Dagestan play significant roles in fueling terrorist attacks. The Beslan School Siege in 2004, one of the most infamous terrorist attacks, was carried out by Chechen separatists. Additionally, and importantly, Russia’s fighting against and cooperation in fighting against terrorism in other countries especially Syria and the influence of extremist ideologies from abroad often play a crucial role in terrorism. Among others, the ongoing Ukraine war, which has been continuing for more than two years, has probably made it easier, at least somewhat, for the latest terrorist attacks in Moscow.
Russia has taken legislative, strengthened security based and other steps to address terrorist attacks, not only in Russia but also beyond. While Russia has taken legislative steps including the 2002 Federal Law on Combating Extremist Activity, the country has strong internal security measures and intelligence capacity. Strong security measures and strict government control over potential threats give terrorist groups a lower chance of terrorist attacks in different places including the riskier places including public transportation systems across Russia — a country that puts notable emphasis on counterterrorism efforts — compared to many other countries. Among others, Russia’s history of dealing with internal conflicts and insurgencies influences its approach to successfully dealing with counterterrorism activities.
Despite strengthened counter-terrorism efforts, different countries face terrorist threats and attacks. However, there are various flaws in the steps that facilitate terrorist attacks in different countries including Russia, which believes that the global terrorist threat should be tackled jointly on the basis of a truly collective approach. Ineffective intelligence gathering and inadequate steps to thwart potential militant plots are notable limitations that affect many times. Among others, a focus on military solutions rather than addressing the root causes of extremism is a crucial limitation in its efforts to successfully fight terrorism. Russia’s focus on military intervention has probably inadvertently fueled further radicalization. Consequently, terrorist attacks are often carried out by individuals and/or groups in many countries including Russia.
It is probably difficult to completely end terrorist attacks for any country including Russia — given diverse reasons including geopolitical reasons. But it is definitely desired that effective steps be taken to reduce the chance of such attacks in Russia in the future and prevent shocking deaths. For this, increasing intelligence gathering and sharing among security agencies and enhancing the counter-terrorism capability of law enforcement agencies are crucial. Among others, implementing counter-radicalization programs to prevent individuals from becoming radicalized and joining terrorist groups is crucial in addressing the root causes of terrorism.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
