Country Report on Terrorism 2024 - Chapter 1 - Russia

Country Overview:  Russia remained concerned about violent Islamist groups, including those with ideological ties to ISIS and al-Qa’ida.  The Russian Federation also continued to use terrorism as a pretext to suppress political opposition and the exercise of human rights, or for other objectives in both domestic and foreign policy.  In particular, the Russian government accused Ukraine of conducting terrorist attacks on civilians in Russia as part of its attempts to delegitimize Ukraine’s self-defense against Russian aggression.

In 2024, the Russian government repatriated 78 children of ISIS families from camps in northeastern Syria, according to the Russian presidential commissioner for children’s rights. To date, Russia has repatriated about 275 displaced nationals from northeast Syria but has declined to repatriate its own detained nationals.  There are about 175 detained and 1,600 displaced Russian nationals in northeast Syria.

Russia increasingly used counterterrorism measures and legislation to stifle political opposition, independent media, and religious organizations.  The Russian government routinely designates civil society and religious organizations as “terrorist” or “undesirable” under its legal code to prevent dissent.  Russian authorities have the power to label any political group or entity as such.  The Russian government can declare any individual or entity a foreign agent if it claims to find “foreign influence” or if a person conducts political activity or disseminates military information.

In 2024, the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General’s Office declared 65 organizations “undesirable,” including the independent media outlet the Moscow Times.  In 2024, Russia’s Financial Intelligence Unit designated 2,248 persons as “terrorists” and 917 using their additional authorities.

2024 Terrorism Trends:  On March 22, ISIS-K coordinated a terrorist attack against civilians at the Crocus Concert Hall music venue using small arms and incendiary devices, resulting in at least 145 deaths and over 600 injuries.