GROZNY. Oct 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The Federal Security Service (FSB) branch for Chechnya has reported on the results of its three- year-long activities.
Lieutenant General Sergei Babkin, Chechnya's branch chief, told Interfax on Monday that over this period his officers have conducted 750 special operations, killing 965 rebels.
Babkin said that his branch has prevented 54 major acts of sabotage and terrorist attacks in Chechnya, seized 1,021 kilograms of explosives, 994 rifles and over 500,000 cartridges, he said.
According to the general, normalization process in Chechnya has become irreversible. Governing and control bodies are being reinforced, and permanent law-enforcement agencies are being established. "Under current circumstances, the tasks of protecting civilians, maintaining law and order and ensuring regular functioning of the economy are even more pressing for us," he said.
Babkin recalled that the branch's units were doing their best to combat illegal oil business in Chechnya. Over the past three years, they have prevented dozens of attempts to export large batches of stolen oil and illegally processed fuel and lubricants.
The general said that 976 agents of his branch had been awarded for heroism and courage that they displayed while accomplishing their duties and taking part in the anti-guerilla operation.