The meeting focused on the security of the Republic. Mukha Aliyev reported that 15 people guilty of serious crimes had just given themselves up of their own free will. There are reasons to believe that many more will follow suit. Criminals have been surrendering since Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Nikolai Patrushev urged the militants to lay down their arms.
The situation in the Republic is not simple, but it is changing for the better, Aliyev said. He pointed to the growing contribution of the people of Dagestan to ensuring security in the republic. Many residents report suspicious people to the law-enforcement bodies, he added. Eight acts of terror have been prevented, and 20 militants killed.
Measures are being taken to improve border security. A federal program provides for the introduction of 28 frontier outposts in Dagestan before the end of this year, and for another nine in 2007. A Defense Ministry alpine brigade has been deployed in the town of Botlikh.