On January 20, at a session of Tatarstan Ministry of Internal Affairs, President Rustam Minnikhanov said that ensuring safety of citizens will be a priority for internal affairs agencies in 2015.

On January 20, at a session of Tatarstan Ministry of Internal Affairs, President Rustam Minnikhanov said that ensuring safety of citizens will be a priority for internal affairs agencies in 2015.

Making a keynote report at the session, Tatarstan Minister of Internal Affairs Artem Khokhorin said that 44,781crimes were committed in 2014 that is less than in 2013 (46,021). The crime rate is the republic is lower than average rate in Russia and Volga Federal District. Employees of law enforcement agencies revealed 22,908 crimes in 2014.

Police officers were ensuring safety at 5, 000 mass events.

According to Khokhorin, new crimes such as infecting cash machines with viruses, hacking banking systems, and fake shopping websites have recently been observed. The ministry is taking measures and training employees to counteract these new challenges.

Khokhorin reminded participants of the meeting that the World Aquatics Championship and elections of Tatarstan President will be held in 2015.

Russian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandr Savenkov, who took part in the session, said that Tatarstan Ministry of Internal Affairs fulfilled all tasks on ensuring public order and safety. He also noted that such a developed region as Tatarstan attracts foreign citizens, and some of them are involved in destabilization of the situation and extremist threats. Internal affairs agencies should be ready to counteract these threats.

Savenkov said that internal affairs agencies are going to carry out operational, investigative and preventive measures before big sport events, and they should use all potential of anti-terrorist commission, authority of Tatarstan Security Council and Parliament.

Minnikhanov thanked Russian Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and administration of the ministry for attention paid to police officers. He noted that the impact of negative economic factors on people’s life should be minimized.

“I think that the situation is the republic is stable, and big job has been done. The work on counteracting terrorism and extremism should be continued, especially on the threshold of World Aquatics Championship. Decriminalization of economy and creation of favourable business environment are important,” the president said.

It was noted that due to the growing unemployment in the republic law enforcement agencies will face new challenges.

Ensuring safety in public places is another priority in work of Tatarstan Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov handed awards to the most distinguished internal affairs employees.