On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that he would defeat anyone who tries to sow division among the people of Russia while honoring the effectiveness and unwavering loyalty of the country’s mighty law enforcement agencies.
In Ukraine, Mr. Putin has intensified a decades-long campaign against civil society, independent media and opposition groups with dissent as well as criticism of Kremlin banned and are punishable by lengthy prison terms.
“Those who try to intimidate people or divide our society or play on religious or national feelings will never succeed,” said Putin in a video message posted on the Kremlin website.
“They will face inevitable and just retribution,” he added.
This is how Russia usually refers to those who oppose it including domestic critics like Alexey Navalny, whom Moscow portrays as its Western agents or marionettes.
On “Investigation Officers’ Day” marked by Putin in Russia, he greeted several Russian law enforcement bodies such as FSB security services and Investigative Committee which succeeded Soviet-era KGB.
“Investigators exhibit an unswerving devotion to their native land and our people,” noted Putin.
Kremlin critics argue that its focus on pursuing domestic political opponents has left it blind to real threats against the state’s security.
The deadliest terrorist attack in nearly two decades occurred last month when gunmen killed over 140 people at a Moscow concert hall.
Western intelligence agencies had warned about this incident for days before, a move that was termed by Mr. Putin as ‘blackmail’ and ‘attempts at destabilizing our society.’
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility but Putin tried without giving any proof to link it with Ukraine case instead of ISIS massacre.
Almost all of them are either behind bars or have fled abroad including Khodorkovsky, Nemtsov, Kasparov among others.
After silencing all dissents and passing military censorship laws forbidding criticism of army operation in Ukraine; Mr. Putin insists that his actions enjoy wide support in Russia.
