In line with Article 5 of the Federal Law On Countering Terrorism Vladimir Putin has approved the Procedure for declaring the levels of terrorist threat.
The Executive Order shall enter into force upon its official publication.
The Procedure stipulates that in order to inform the public in a timely manner about the threat of a terrorist attack and to organise activities to counter the attack, the following terrorist threat levels can be declared in respective areas of the Russian Federation:
- elevated (“blue“) — requires confirmation of the available information about the real threat of a terrorist attack;
- high (“yellow“) — information about the real threat of a terrorist attack has been confirmed;
- critical (“red“) — there is information that a terrorist attack has been committed or information about actions creating an imminent threat of a terrorist attack.
The decision on declaring, changing or revoking the elevated (“blue“) and high (“yellow“) terrorist threat levels in a Russian region shall be taken by the Chairman of the Anti-Terrorist Committee of the region in consultation with the regional security agency head.
The Chairman of the Anti-Terrorist Committee of the region shall immediately inform the Chairman of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee about such decision, and set the period for which the elevated (“blue“) or high (“yellow“) terrorist threat level has been set, the boundaries of the area within which the level is set, and a list of additional measures prescribed by the Procedure.
The decision on declaring, changing or revoking the critical (“red“) terrorist threat level in a region of the Russian Federation shall be taken by the Chairman of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee on the basis of a report by the Chairman of the regional Anti-Terrorist Committee. He shall also set the period for which this terrorist threat level is set in the region, the boundaries of the area within which it is set, and additional measures to be taken.
Should he deem it appropriate subject to the availability of relevant information, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee Chairman has the authority to declare, change or revoke any terrorist threat level in one or more Russian regions and to determine the period for declaring the terrorist threat level, the boundaries of the territory within which it is set, and additional measures to be taken.
The decision on declaring, changing or revoking the terrorist threat level, as well as information about the period for declaring the terrorist threat level and the boundaries of the territory within which it is set shall be immediately made public through the media.
Additional measures to ensure the safety of individuals, society and the state shall be carried out by federal executive bodies, state authorities in the regions of the Russian Federation, local authorities and bodies established in accordance with Federal Law On Countering Terrorism, within the limits of their competence and according to previously developed plans, and must not restrict the rights and freedoms of individuals.