Putin Demands Better Security in Chechnya
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MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin has ordered Russian security officials to improve their performance in Chechnya in the wake of bomb attacks that have killed more than 30 people in the breakaway province.
A new bomb explosion early today killed two people in the neighboring region of Dagestan, which has often seen spillover from the Chechnya conflict.
Putin issued the warning to ministers and officials attending late-night talks Wednesday at a military base in the North Caucasus region. He had made an unscheduled stop on his way back from a summit in Central Asia.
“Many of the losses could have been avoided. For this we need discipline, professionalism and responsibility,” Russian news agencies quoted Putin as saying at the base at Mozdok in North Ossetia, a republic bordering Chechnya.
Putin told Interior Minister Vladimir B. Rushailo that he must act more quickly to build forces from locals rather than bringing in police from other regions.
“People from the local population know better who is a real bandit and terrorist,” Putin was quoted as saying.
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