The press service of the Dagestan FSB Directorate has shared new, clearer details about a case involving individuals linked to the Islamic State, a banned terrorist organization in Russia. The disclosures pertain to plans for attacks in Makhachkala set for December 31, 2020, and were reported by Kommersant based on official briefings.
According to the agency, four residents of Dagestan — Magomed Ramazanov, Ali Abdulkerimov, Magomed Abdulkadirov, and Shamsudin Shakhrudinov — joined ISIS in December 2020 with the intention of striking high-profile targets in the region. The plot targeted facilities associated with the FSB and the Center for Combating Extremism, underscoring the motive to undermine state security and provoke fear among the public.
Six days prior to the planned attacks, law enforcement officers intervened and detained all four suspects. A thorough search of the apartment where the conspirators prepared their operation uncovered a pistol, a knife, components for making explosives, and a grenade. Investigators also recovered a machine gun, a grenade launcher, and a home-made explosive device, indicating a sizeable and dangerous arsenal assembled for the mission.
During questioning, the detainees admitted their involvement and confessed to the preparation of a terrorist act, the organization of an armed group, illegal possession and storage of weapons and ammunition, and engagement in extremist activities. The court subsequently pronounced lengthy prison terms: Ramazanov received 12 years, Abdulkerimov 11 and a half years, and Abdulkadirov and Shakhrudinov each 11 years. In addition, each defendant was fined 350,000 rubles. The court also determined that the prisoners would serve the first four years in a standard prison environment, after which they would be transferred to a strict regime facility.
This case fits into a broader pattern in Dagestan where individuals connected to extremist networks have been identified before carrying out planned operations near key security facilities. The authorities emphasize ongoing vigilance and swift action to disrupt plots in their earliest stages, safeguarding public spaces and maintaining regional stability.