Russia's Security Service has killed a top terrorist leader in the country's Caucasian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. His militant group was allegedly receiving backing from abroad.
Officials say over the last few years Zeitun Sultanov's group was involved in at least 20 attacks on police officials in the republic, reportedly using heavy explosives.
Sultanov was cooperating with militant leaders from Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, North Ossetia and Karachayevo-Cherkessia. Also, since 2008 he was coordinating the activities of terror groups on a considerable area of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Ria Novosti news agency says.
During the special operation on April 22 Sultanov gang’s aide Alim Boziyev was also killed.
In the past Sultanov has had links to the late Chechen terrorist leaders Shamil Basayev and Amir Khattab.
After fighting against federal forces during the Chechen campaign those two were responsible for numerous kidnappings and murders in the Caucasus region.