Moscow, Jan 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Law enforcers in Russia's North Caucasus republics last year concealed over 5,000 crimes, including more than 20 murders, an official said.
Ivan Sydoruk, a deputy prosecutor general of the North Caucasus Federal District, said: "Law enforcement officers continue concealing crimes from registering them… There were discovered over 5,000 crimes, including over two dozens of murders. This is a real picture for you.".
Sydoruk told Kommersant daily that although the number of crimes was on the decline in the region, over 136,000 violations of law were still registered last year.
The Islamist insurgency, once confined largely to Chechnya, has spread in recent years across the North Caucasus. Attacks on security forces, police and civilians are reported regularly in the neighbouring republics of Dagestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.