Law enforcement agencies and special services of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states begin on Wednesday an active stage of antiterrorism drills, the Russian National Antiterrorism Committee said.
The exercises are held southern Russia's Saratov Region in two stages: the first stage was held on August 16-23, and the second begins on Wednesday to last until August 28, RIA Novosti reported.
"The aim of the exercises is to organize cooperation of national antiterrorism centers, special services and law enforcement bodies of the SCO member states to implement a complex of measures in order to prevent acts of terrorism in crowded places," the committee said in a statement.
During the first stage of the drills, Russian, Kyrgyz and Kazakh law enforcement agencies and special services practiced coordinated operational and investigative activities against a hypothetical terrorist group.
The SCO is a security organization consisting of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status.