Anatoly VYBORNY: “A belt of good-neighbourly relations and a bulletproof vest of anti-terrorist legislation will help fighting terrorism in the CSTO area”

Collective security requires coordinated action and harmonization of counter-terrorism legislation.
In 2020, the Russian Federation took over the CSTO presidency. Like no other country, our state has unique experience in the fight against terrorism. Being a guarantor of stability and protection of sovereignty of countries and nations against terrorism, the Russian Federation is ready to share this experience not only with CSTO Member States (the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan), but also with potential partners and observers of the Organization (the Republic of Serbia, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and others).
International terrorism is an ultimate threat to the peace and security of humankind, and it is extremely difficult to fight it alone. To vanquish it, consolidated efforts and a systemic approach are needed. The CSTO is the only platform on the post-Soviet space that addresses the counter-terrorism issues in a comprehensive way and strengthens the “belt of good-neighbourly relations” along its borders.
Only through joint efforts can we set out a common strategy to face such global transnational threat as terrorism. That is why we promote improvement and approximation of the national laws of the CSTO Member States to provide a comprehensive response to the terrorist threat. Thanks to these consolidated efforts, level of terrorism-related crimes in Russia-friendly countries has markedly gone down. And Moscow is safer than other cities in the world.
A striking example of the CSTO PA’s work on harmonizing and unifying national counter-terrorism legislation was the model law (of recommendatory nature) on information confrontation of terrorism and extremism which put a stop to attempts to spread the ideas of terrorism in the media space.
We have also agreed with CSTO Member States to conduct coordinated actions at international platforms, including the UN. Now, terrorists will not have a chance to lay low and sit it out in a neighbouring CSTO Member State. The “extradite or prosecute” principle should apply to such criminals.
That is the reason why a legal arrangement has been made under which an organization recognized as terrorist in one CSTO State will be automatically recognized as such by all bloc allies. If all countries of the world joined these legal arrangements, there would be no state left where a terrorist could hide.
Approximation of the antiterrorist legislation of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan makes it possible to seize financial resources and property of terrorists. A comprehensive strategy involving combating the legalization of drug proceeds through the use of cryptocurrency cash-out schemes helps suppress any attempts to financially support terrorists, among other things through drug trafficking.
This year, a number of significant amendments have been made to Russian legislation which create additional opportunities for prompt counter-terrorism actions. For example, criminal sanctions for hoax callers have been toughened, while terrorist recruiters may be subject to life imprisonment.
Such measures have proven to be effective on a global scale. Withing the framework of a comprehensive response to terrorist organizations, resource bases of terrorists are eliminated and recruitment and terrorist financing channels are blocked. That is why it is so important to join efforts to develop common approaches to countering terrorism.
Concerted action and joint operations also have a positive effect. Thus, during the Nelegal 2019 operation, 1,342 persons on international wanted lists were detained in Russia and in five neighbouring states. Decisions have been made concerning over 1,000 foreign nationals to be deported from the Russian Federation. An international staff is coordinating efforts to identify criminal groups that use illegal migration channels in the interests of terrorist organizations.
Anatoly Vyborny, Chairman of the CSTO PA Standing Commission on Defence and Security, deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation​​