MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Some 4,000 servicemen of the Interior Ministry troops maintain law and order in Russia daily.
"Over 3,900 Interior Ministry servicemen are assigned daily to maintain public order in populated localities in 41 Russian regions," a spokesman for the Interior Ministry troops headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Since the beginning of the year, Interior Ministry servicemen have seized some 70 pieces of firearms and 125 pieces of cold arms, several explosive devices, hundreds of various cartridges, and over 360kg of drugs," the spokesman said.
Guards and patrols from military units and formations guarding vital government installations and special cargoes have detained some 50,000 trespassers and people who violated security rules inside guarded installations this year. "The servicemen have prevented about 60,000 blasts, fires and disasters. The economic efficiency of combat service amounts to over RUB12m (USD378,310) in 2002," the spokesman stressed.
The press bureau of the Interior Ministry troops command earlier reported that a decrease in street crime had been registered in 32 Russian cities and towns where Interior Ministry servicemen are operating. Armed patrols have detained over 600,000 people for various violations including 2,800 people for crimes this year.
Law-enforcement agencies have been engaged in combating terrorism since September 1999. The Interior Ministry troops together with police forces have carried out Vikhr-Antiterror, Modzhakhed, Vahhabit-4, Signal, Arsenal large-scale preventive operations. During that period over 990,000 people have been detained for various violations of law and order, including over 5,000 suspected criminals. The servicemen have seized some 550 pieces of firearms, over 23,000 various cartridges, over 100 explosive devices, over 400kg of drugs.
Deputy Interior Minister and Interior Ministry Troops Commander Colonel General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov earlier told reporters that Interior Ministry troops groups are to be established in trouble sports by 2005."The key grouping will be located in the North Caucasus," Tikhomirov said.
Russian Interior Ministry troops districts are planned to be transformed in regional commands for federal districts, formations and large units to be brigade-structured with removal of extensive intermediate controls, service and support units.
"Interior Ministry troops will be at most relieved from patrol tasks, guarding vital government installations, special cargo and lines of communications," he said.
The Russian Interior Ministry troops have the below primary roles: to keep in cooperation with interior bodies social order; to guarantee public security and enforce state of emergency; to guard vital government installations and special cargoes; to defend Russia's territory; to assist Federal Border Guard Service troops in guarding Russia's state border.
Special-purpose units acting as part of operational formations are involved in disarmament and liquidation of illegal armed formations and criminal organizations, suppressing armed disorder and acts of terror, and scouting in areas of mission accomplishment by the Interior Ministry troops.
The Interior Ministry troops consist of seven districts, this being the North Caucasus, Moscow, Northwestern, Volga, Ural, Siberian and Eastern districts.
The Interior Ministry troops include control bodies, operational purpose units, special motorized formations and military units, units and formations intended for guarding vital government installations and special cargoes, logistics support units and formations.