Interfax: MP Starshinov urges counter-propaganda, covert intelligence in fight against religious extremism

MOSCOW. Dec 31 (Interfax) – Russian Popular Front Central Council member, head of the inter-faction group for interaction between civil society, police and security services Mikhail Starshinov (United Russia) has proposed a number of operative measures regarding the Volgograd terror attacks.

“I am confident that we need to increase the number of investigators, especially in the North Caucasus, and to broaden covert intelligence operations. Claims of insufficient financing cannot excuse the current state of affairs,” Starshinov told reporters.

He also called for “resisting Wahhabism with counter-propaganda of the authorities and traditional Islam, which strongly condemns any manifestations of terrorism.”

Besides, it is necessary to mount resistance to followers of the idea of the destruction of the constitutional system and their supporters and, especially, accomplices. “Up to denaturalization and deportation – let them carry out this activity in the countries where they were trained to do so. These countries are well known,” Starshinov said.

He said it was wrong to blame security services for the latest terror attacks. Security services and police “are taking titanic and unprecedented efforts,” Starshinov noted, adding they had higher efficiency than foreign colleagues.

Wahhabism is being freely advocated in Russia, he said.

“Meanwhile, many countries with the absolute majority of Islamic residents, for instance, former Soviet republics in Central Asia, strongly oppose the spread of this movement. But we often tie up the hands of our security services and prevent them from being efficient in fighting this evil under the tolerance pretexts,” Starshinov said.