Title: Russia Unveils New Counter-Extremism Strategy, Introducing ‘Rusophobia’
In a newly published document on the official portal of legal information, President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree outlining Russia’s updated strategy for countering extremism. The new strategy, first introduced in 2020 and now revised, introduces the term ‘rusophobia’ and provides an extensive definition of what it entails.
What is Rusophobia?
According to the updated strategy, rusophobia is defined as a hostile, prejudiced, or aggressive attitude towards Russian citizens, the Russian language, and culture. This can manifest in aggressive sentiments and actions by individuals or political forces, and discriminatory actions taken by authorities in unfriendly countries. The strategy also notes that some states employ extremist and terrorist organizations as tools in their hybrid wars against political opponents, with Russia being a prime target.
The Ukraine Factor
A significant deviation from previous iterations of the strategy is its mention of Ukraine as one of the main sources of extremism. The document expresses concern about the widespread promotion of neo-Nazi ideologies and the strengthening of radical armed formations in Ukraine, which are allegedly supported by external forces seeking to destabilize Russia.
The strategy identifies the ‘Ukrainian crisis’ as a means for hostile countries to wage hybrid wars against Russia and incite aggressive rusophobic sentiments worldwide. Consequently, one of the key objectives of the new strategy is to neutralize the extremist threats emanating from Ukrainian territory.
Protests and Migration
The revised strategy also addresses unsanctioned protests, which it views as a primary method of destabilizing Russia’s political climate. It suggests that these protests are deliberately transmuted into mass disturbances, with various techniques employed to manipulate public opinion. Furthermore, the document highlights the challenges posed by illegal activities conducted by migrant populations in certain Russian regions.
Countermeasures and Unclear Aspects
The strategy outlines numerous objectives and tasks for Russia’s counter-extremism policy, including the establishment of a database tracking individuals who have traveled abroad to participate in extremist organizations’ activities or received training in ‘unfriendly’ countries’ centers. However, it does not specify what constitutes such ‘centers’ or the information that will be recorded in the database.
In summation, Russia’s updated counter-extremism strategy introduces rusophobia as a key concern and pins much of the blame on external forces. It also emphasizes the need to address domestic challenges, such as unsanctioned protests and migration-related issues. While the strategy sets out ambitious objectives, certain aspects remain unclear, raising questions about its practical implications.
