Numbers back up increasing violence in the Caucasus

Some grim statistics released today on the spiraling violence in the North Caucasus.

According to Caucasian Knot, a leading publication on the troubled region, 84 people were killed and 168 injured in January as a result of the conflict between insurgents and state forces. Fifty-two of the dead and 144 of the injured were civilians, it said.

Compare that to the whole of 2009 – when 92 people were killed as a result of the conflict – or even 2010, when 178 people died.

January saw a minimum of 18 terrorist attacks and 11 gunfights, it said. Security services were able to prevent seven terrorist attacks.

The publication broke down January’s violence by republic:

– 9 terrorist attacks in Dagestan; 3 in Chechnya; 2 in Ingushetia; 2 in Kabardino-Balkaria; 1 in North Ossetia; 1 in the Moscow region (the attack on Domodedovo airport)
– 8 battles between insurgents and security forces in Dagestan; 2 in Chechnya; 1 in Ingushetia

(All stats courtesy of Caucasian Knot.)