Regional security organization's drills in Russia enter active stage

Law enforcement agencies and special services of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states will begin on Wednesday the active stage of their anti-terrorism drills, the Russian National Antiterrorism Committee said.

The exercises in southern Russia's Saratov Region are being held in two stages. The first stage was held on August 16-23, and the second begins on Wednesday and will last until August 28.
"The aim of the exercises is to organize cooperation among national antiterrorism centers, special services and law enforcement bodies of the SCO member states to implement a complex of measures to prevent acts of terrorism in crowded places," the committee said in a statement.

During the first stage of the drills, Russian, Kyrgyz and Kazakh law enforcement agencies and special services practiced coordinated operational and investigative activities against a hypothetical terrorist group.

The SCO is a security organization consisting of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status.

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