Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered law enforcement officers to suppress extremist activities as the number of crimes increased five percent in the country last year. Xinhua news agency reported that Putin said at the annual expanded meeting of the Interior Ministry Board that countering extremism is one of the ministry’s priorities.
According to him, some groups incited ethnic and religious intolerance, organised unauthorised public events and attempted to recruit young people via social networks.
He said that any illegal action aimed at splitting society and destabilising the situation is a serious threat to the country’s security.