Speaking at a meeting on national security issues in the North Caucasian Federal District, Nikolai Patrushev, the Russian Security Council Secretary, said that the West continues attempts to destabilize situation in the region.

"A vivid example is the events of last October in Dagestan, when as a result of provocations and incitement from abroad and spread on the Internet, there were mass riots that led to the disruption of the airport" - Patrushev said. As to Patrushev, the US and its allies are trying to use provocation and disinformation to start separatist processes in the Northern Caucasus in order to weaken Russia from within.