Putin says external forces are trying to divide Russian society

Statement at the Council meeting

On November 3, at a meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that external forces are attempting to divide Russian society, emphasizing that 'this has always been the case throughout our more than thousand-year history.' According to him, such attempts are connected with the country's geopolitical position, as over the centuries it has become a major and influential power, and Russia's adversaries in various historical periods sought to diminish its capabilities and influence. This is reported by Life.ru.

What else was discussed at the meeting

The theme of preserving public unity became one of the key topics at the meeting: the gathering was devoted to the outcomes of the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia, strengthening interethnic harmony, and preserving traditional spiritual and moral values. At the same meeting, as the outlet notes in a separate article, Putin called for timely identification of the risks of interethnic conflicts and for responding professionally to emerging problems. He emphasized the special role of national-cultural and religious associations, government bodies, and local self-government, which interact directly with citizens: disagreements, according to the president, inevitably arise in any society, so it is important to notice potential contradictions in time and prevent them from escalating into serious conflicts.