Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that public transportation would undergo a security overhaul in his country following a suicide bombing Monday at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow. He criticized airport officials as having been “absolutely passive” about security, and called for “comprehensive security” instead.
“Unfortunately, it should be intrusive,” he said. “Each of us knows how interaction with police and transport services happen at some foreign airports and railway stations.... they force us to turn our suitcases upside-down, force us to undress. But that's the only way to achieve a result.”
Medvedev has fired a senior transport official, and has given other officials two weeks to “shake up the entire transport police service.”
Critics said Medvedev's plan was insufficient. Writing for the Moscow Times, reporters Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan termed the plan “imitation anti-terror.” Medvedev has focused on transportation officials and on the response to terrorism, while failing to probe the Interior Ministry and Federal Security Service, they charged, adding, “This underscores Medvedev's narrow, bureaucratic approach of firing officials instead of focusing on preventing a terrorist attack in the first place.”
Russia's real problem is its outdated anti-terror strategy, they continued. The strategy focuses on preventing attacks by large groups of militants or terrorists, but in recent years terrorists targeting Russia have switched to attacking in small groups or as individuals.
Russia to Tighten Security
President Medvedev calls for “comprehensive security” after bomber murders 35, but critics say he hasn't gone far enough.
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