Speaking in Cholpon-Ata in Kyrgyzstan, where the second stage of the Issyk-Kul Antiterror 2018 drills is taking place, Novikov said ISIS is establishing a new foothold in the region to form its caliphate and to also plant new sleeper cells whilst invigorating existing ones. The group carries out recruitment, training and the reactivation of terrorist groups from Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Russia.