Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissenting voices.
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that certain “malicious” are stepping up their efforts to destabilize Russia and urged members of his cabinet not to allow this “under any circumstances”.
He said Russia’s Security Council would discuss ensuring security in the context of what he said were “extremely important” issues related to relations between the vast country’s 190 ethnic groups.
“Today we will also address these issues in terms of ensuring the security of Russia, in this case internal political security,” he said.
Since sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified its crackdown on dissent and pushed the rest of its beleaguered liberal opposition abroad.
Putin has repeatedly called on Russia to unite in the face of “existential threats” from the West, but has occasionally faced hostility from ethnic groups who feel particularly targeted by Moscow’s mobilization drive.
In March, Moscow banned the Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum, an organization founded by opposition activists that advocates for independence for Russia’s various ethnic groups.
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