(CNN) — Russian efforts to bolster security ahead of next month’s Winter Olympics appear to have ramped up in recent days, with authorities looking for several female terrorism suspects and special forces conducting operations in the restive republic of Dagestan.
The developments come as international debate builds over security at the Olympic host city of Sochi, despite assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country will do its utmost to keep the games secure.
In Rostock-on-Don — about a nine-hour drive north of Sochi — authorities gave hotels posters of three women who they believed were planning terrorist attacks during an Olympic torch relay between Tuesday and Thursday.
Two of the women still were at large Tuesday, but the third — Zaira Alieva — was one of seven rebels killed Saturday in a raid by Russian anti-terror authorities in Dagestan’s capital, Makhachkala, Russia’s government said.
Police also have handed out fliers at Sochi-area hotels warning of a fourth woman — Ruzanna “Salima” Ibragimova — they believe could be a terrorist and who may currently be in the Black Sea resort town.
Additionally, Russian anti-terrorism officials said Tuesday that the country’s special forces were conducting two operations in Dagestan, state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported. Dagestan, about a 12-hour drive from Sochi on the other side of the Caucasus mountain range, has seen years of unrest linked to an Islamist insurgency.
CNN’s Joseph Netto and Gena Somra contributed to this report
