Putin’s decree simplifies implementing terrorism alerts across Russia

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that simplifies implementing terrorist threat alerts across Russia’s regions.

The Russian law provides three levels of terrorism alerts that give local authorities specific emergency powers, from a moderate “blue” alert to a critical “red” alert level.

Under earlier legislation, the authorities could set a region on terrorism alert for up to 15 days. Now, once declared, an alert will remain in effect until canceled.

In the past, only the “red” alert permitted the authorities to search private vehicles for weapons and explosives. Under the new law, this will become possible under the “yellow” alert protocol.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, several parts of Russia, including the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, have resorted to the “yellow” terrorism alert. The same alert level has been implemented in some parts of the Russian-occupied Crimea. No region has yet declared a “red” alert level.