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Russia can learn from UK security services' handling of terror plot – senators
Interfax

Moscow, 11 August: What guaranteed the success of the operation by the British special services to avert a large-scale terrorist act was their substantial operational work and also work among the Muslim diasporas living in Britain, according to the deputy head of the Federation Council's Defence and Security Committee, Vyacheslav Popov.

"The work of any special services cannot succeed without these elements," Popov told Interfax. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that the terrorist act was uncovered thanks to a member of the British special services being planted in the terrorist camp.

"Events in London demonstrate yet again that the threat of terrorism is very serious for the international community. And a distinctive feature of the struggle against terrorism is that it is difficult to prevent terrorist acts," the senator said.

He said the struggle against terrorism demands an improvement in the technical and organizational base of the special services. On the other hand, Popov noted, one consequence of this struggle is a certain restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens. "Society should not be worried about this. The choice here is between security, on the one hand, and freedom and rights, on the other," the senator noted.

He said that the price here is too high as people's lives are at stake. That is why security measures need to be stepped up and society will have to accept the restrictions.

For his part, Senator Valeriy Fedorov also expressed the view that the British special services' success can be put down to coordinated and efficient work both inside the country and abroad.

"What was involved was cooperation with special services, and in particular the US special services, and the operational exchange of information. And all this taken together made such a positive result possible. The efforts of the entire international community need to be combined in the struggle against terrorism because you cannot defeat this evil alone," Fedorov told Interfax.

In his view, the Russian special services learnt major lessons after Beslan and comment can be passed about the results of their activities on the basis of available information. "In the years since Beslan our special services have averted a large number of terrorist acts, thus saving lives. Our special services have begun to cooperate better and have improved the level of their operational work," Fedorov added.

At the same time, he believes, the Russian special services have something to learn from the British special services.

Senator Issa Kostoyev also agrees with this view. In an interview with Interfax, he described the operation carried out by the British special services as splendid.

"Undoubtedly this was preceded by detailed operational planning and efficient fulfilment of their duties by the airport services, since it is very important for there to be as many systems of security checks as possible on boarding aircraft. And it is no less important that no members of the security services should be corrupt so that there can be certainty that no-one will get through the special checks for a bribe," Kostoyev said.

He added that in 99 per cent of cases terrorist acts take place because of the slovenliness and irresponsibility of security personnel and also breaches of the rules and instructions that have been drawn up.

According to the senator, Russia should draw a useful lesson from the events in Britain. "We should take an even closer look at the whole system of checks and security measures at our airports. We also need to verify the situation regarding the storage of freight at Russian airports, and this above all applies to Moscow," Kostoyev believes.

He also said it was necessary to check passengers both on departure and on arrival on all internal flights. "The trouble is that measures of this kind are currently applied only to passengers flying to or from Ingushetia. And this causes justified outrage among the republic's citizens. I believe that this practice should be applied to all flights, not just those flying to or from Ingushetia," Kostoyev said.