Major N Caucasus militant detained: Russia
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A notorious North Caucasus insurgent was detained Wednesday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) chief said.
FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, in briefing President Dmitry Medvedev, alleged Ali Taziyev, known as Magas, had participated in a series of terrorist attacks, including the attempted assassination of Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, the leader of the Republic of Ingushetia.
"Everything necessary should be done to correctly record the gangster's testimony to ensure all the necessary procedural actions, so that all the crimes could be given an adequate assessment by the court," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Medvedev as saying.
Taziyev, who had been wanted by Russian security forces since 2004 and had been deported to Moscow, faced three charges of running illegal armed groups, insurgency and selling weaponry.
Violence is common in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, with militants frequently targeting police and officials as representatives of Russian authorities.
Moscow recently made economic improvements in the region to prevent locals from joining terrorists. The Kremlin has vowed to tackle the problems of unemployment, clan rivalry and corruption in the region, which are viewed as the reasons for violence there.
