PYATIGORSK. Nov 18 (Interfax) - The Interior Ministry branch in the North Caucasian Federal District has declared intensified activity of militants in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria, chief of the department's investigations bureau Col. Valery Zhernov told a Thursday press conference.
"Tensions remain in the North Caucasus and have escalated in Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria," he said.
A total of 117 acts of terror were carried out in Kabardino-Balkaria this year, compared to 21 in 2009.
There were 57 explosions in 2010 and eleven in 2009, and 60 shooting incidents in 2010 and ten in 2009, he said.
Meanwhile, Dagestan had 231 acts of terror in 2010 and 161 in 2009, including 95 explosions (49 in 2009) and 136 shooting incidents (113 in 2009).
Zhernov explained the intensified activity with the detention and killing of militant leaders. "Young militants take their place and try to prove their worth to sponsors," he said.