Interfax: Foreigners worried about North Caucasus ‘had better look at themselves’ – Putin

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Sitting at Desk

(Interfax – Novo-Ogarevo, September 9, 2013) Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that it is necessary, while defending human rights and freedoms in the North Caucasus, not to ignore sweeping accusations of allegedly widespread violations of human rights in the region.

“Attempts by foreign states to use the existing problems in the North Caucasus to the detriment of Russia should be countered more effectively,” Vladimir Putin said during an extended meeting of the Russian Security Council on Monday (9 September).

He stressed that the state would continue to respond firmly to violations of human rights and freedoms in the region and bring those responsible to justice.

“But we should also not ignore sweeping accusations, published in some foreign media and in reports of international organizations, of the so-called ‘widespread violations of human rights in the North Caucasus’,” Putin said.

“They had better look at themselves in the first place, they have plenty of violations themselves,” the head of state added.

According to Putin, the authorities should not ignore the publication of partial, biased information about the North Caucasus, let alone incitement of ethnic-separatist sentiments.

“The law enforcement and foreign affairs structures should be also involved in responding to such facts appropriately. And, of course, active information work and interaction with civil society is necessary,” the president noted.

(Earlier on 9 September, Interfax quoted Putin as saying that the problem of corruption in Russia was “especially dramatic” in the North Caucasus, particularly in the areas of state procurement, loans and subsidies, construction, housing and utilities, and land ownership matters.

Later, Interfax reported that the extended meeting of the Security Council was going to discuss “the main directions of the state policy in the North Caucasian Federal District” and quoted Vladimir Putin as outlining the programme’s “five main priorities” – stepping up the regions social and economic development, ensuring security, combating corruption, countering attempts by foreign countries to use the existing problems in the North Caucasus to the detriment of Russia, and explaining the government’s policy to the people.)

[featured image is file photo]

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