Russia has ended a decade-long security operation against separatist fighters in Chechnya, in a move that could see thousands of troops withdrawn from the territory.Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's president, ordered the move, which took effect on Thursday morning, Russia's anti-terror committee said.
"The decision is aimed at creating the conditions for the future normalisation of the situation in the republic, its reconstruction and development of its socio-economic sphere," it said in a statement.
The security operation imposed restrictions such as curfews, roadblocks, limitations on journalists, spot searches and detention in the region, which has been battered by two full-scale wars with Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Kremlin's critics had accused the operation of fostering major violations of human rights in the former breakaway Russian republic.
Kremlin's critics had accused the operation of fostering major violations of human rights in the former breakaway Russian republic.
Road to peace
The "counterterrorist operation" was passed under Boris Yeltsin, the former Russian president, in 1999, when Russia sent troops to Chechnya to end its short-lived independence.
Russian forces defeated separatist fighters, who had gained control of Muslim-majority Chechnya.
The region still witnesses sporadic clashes between separatists and troops, but it has largely stabilised under the local leadership of Ramzan Kadyrov.
Kadyrov, who is backed by the Kremlin, expressed "great satisfaction" over the announcement to end the security operation.
"Today Chechnya, as thousands of guests can testify, is a peaceful developing area and the cancellation of the operation will only encourage its economic growth," he told Russia's Interfax news agency.
"The militant leaders, on whose conscience lies the pain and suffering of thousands of people, have been eliminated, captured or taken to court."
Russia has withdrawn most of its army units from Chechnya but thousands of police from other Russian regions and scores of special service units still patrol there.
A Russian security source was quoted by Interfax as saying that up to 20,000 troops and police could now be withdrawn from the region.
The region still witnesses sporadic clashes between separatists and troops, but it has largely stabilised under the local leadership of Ramzan Kadyrov.
Kadyrov, who is backed by the Kremlin, expressed "great satisfaction" over the announcement to end the security operation.
"Today Chechnya, as thousands of guests can testify, is a peaceful developing area and the cancellation of the operation will only encourage its economic growth," he told Russia's Interfax news agency.
"The militant leaders, on whose conscience lies the pain and suffering of thousands of people, have been eliminated, captured or taken to court."
Russia has withdrawn most of its army units from Chechnya but thousands of police from other Russian regions and scores of special service units still patrol there.
A Russian security source was quoted by Interfax as saying that up to 20,000 troops and police could now be withdrawn from the region.
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