Aspects of arrangement and tactics in the operation of anti-terrorist forces under the ministry of interior to free hostages

The paper considered the cases of mass disturbance in penal system’ institutions generally followed by seizure of hostages from among the staff of these institutions. So far, from 1986 to 1990 160 hostage seizures have been committed in the ITU (i.e. corrective labor prison camps) and SIZO (i.e. pre-trial prisons) while 347 people have been captured; 635 convicts and detainees have taken part in these seizures, besides two hostages, three employees of the institutions of confinement and 50 participants in seizure of hostages have perished. In Russia, as in the CIS countries seizure of hostages in recent years (especially in the early and mid-1990-ies) became a spread phenomenon. The factors the study should mention among the multiple ones (having significantly complicated the operational situation in Russian Federation with regard to hostage’ taking) are as follows: political and social economic instability, generally worsened criminal situation and religious extremism in Southern Russia as well, ethnic conflicts, recurrent antiterrorist operation the federal forces performed there, and extremely hard economic situation, widespread unemployment, particularly in Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Northern Ossetia - Alania, and proximity of State borders, and so forth.