MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - A statement by the United States embassy in Moscow about possible terrorist attacks in Russia is bewildering, and the two countries' law enforcement agencies should continue working together to counter terrorism, first deputy head of the United Russia faction in the State Duma Vyacheslav Makarov said.
"The embassy's statement causes nothing but bewilderment. The question remains why the diplomats did not publish links to specific publications that reported on possible terrorist attacks. And if they really know something, why they did not immediately inform our competent authorities, as required not only by professional ethics, but also by international agreements," Makarov was quoted as saying by the party's press service on Monday.
Makarov said he hopes that the joint work of the Russian and U.S. law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism would continue and that the situation would be resolved.
"I hope that this misunderstanding will be resolved soon," Makarov said.
The U.S. embassy's statement looks "at least strange, if not immoral" against the backdrop of the two countries' long-standing cooperation in the fight against terrorism, head of the State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Vasily Piskaryov said.
"Under Russian laws, failure to report a terrorist crime that is being prepared is subject to criminal liability," Piskaryov is quoted as saying by the committee's press service on Monday.
On February 20, the U.S. embassy in Moscow published on its website a warning to its citizens that terrorists are continuing to plot possible terrorist attacks in Russia, and the targets could be transportation hubs, tourist sites, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and religious sites.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the Kremlin is looking into whether information has been received from the U.S. via security services about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Russia. So far, no such reports are known.
"We are trying to find out whether any messages of the sort have been received from U.S. security services. At this point, I have no knowledge of such messages," Peskov said.