PYATIGORSK, October 21. /TASS/. Secret services of unfriendly countries are intensifying their efforts to destabilize the situation in Russian regions, Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting on measures to counter subversive activities conducted through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in the country.
He noted that Western countries are employing every possible means of undermining Russia: from frenzied propaganda to direct threats and blackmail.
TASS has compiled the key statements made by the Security Council Secretary.
Increased activity by Western intelligence services
Intelligence agencies of unfriendly countries are intensifying efforts to destabilize the situation in Russian regions "to undermine Russia’s authority on the world stage and weaken its economic and defense-industrial potential."
The West is carrying out subversive activities in an attempt to undermine the unity of the peoples of Russia: "Alongside external pressure, the adversary is conducting targeted subversive activities inside our country, attempting to discredit the political leadership, undermine the state’s territorial integrity, and weaken the unity of the peoples of Russia," he noted.
In an effort to restrict Russia’s opportunities for foreign economic and political cooperation, "they are using blatantly criminal tactics - ranging from hostile takeovers and piracy to extremist and terrorist acts."
Western countries are deploying all available "levers of destructive activity" against Russia: "Frenzied Russophobic propaganda, unlawful and numerous economic sanctions, the buildup of military forces along our borders, aggressive rhetoric, direct threats, and blackmail."
Russia is aware of the adversary’s aggressive plans and must "take preemptive action by swiftly devising and effectively carrying out comprehensive and systematic countermeasures."
Western provocations
The West has stepped up provocative actions aimed at radicalizing the Russian population and boosting its protest potential: "Provocative actions designed to radicalize the population, raise its protest potential, ignite ethno-confessional conflicts, and encourage nationalist and separatist movements have intensified."
In addition, as a means of exerting pressure on Russia, the West is supporting opposition figures abroad and Russians who have left the country, while expanding its network of associates.
Situation in the West
Instead of raising the quality of life for their citizens, Western leaders continue to attempt to "realize their twisted fantasies" by portraying Russia as an aggressor: "It is now evident that the political leadership of Western countries and Western coalitions, instead of improving the quality of life for citizens who have entrusted them with their own future and that of their children, continues trying to fulfill its delusional ambitions by declaring Russia an aggressor and a primary enemy, while intimidating its own population with an imaginary ‘Russian threat.’"
Lately, not a single speech by European leaders has been delivered without this message: "In virtually every speech - if not at the beginning, then at the end - the ‘Russian threat’ is mentioned." At the same time, our country’s political leadership has repeatedly stated, and continues to stress, that no such threat exists."
Recent events in EU countries demonstrate that the ruling parties have entirely lost the public’s trust: "Recent events in major European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy, illustrate just how far such authoritarian policies have drifted from the hopes and aspirations of ordinary people," Shoigu said. "The ruling parties in these countries have completely lost the trust of voters."
"How far must people be pushed before schoolchildren, students, doctors, drivers, farmers, and transport workers stage mass street protests?"
EU leaders have openly opted for confrontation with Russia through militarization. They "openly lobby for the interests of affiliated military-industrial corporations, cynically ignoring the opinions and needs of their own citizens: many of them openly say that the interests of their citizens come second, while their main priority is to keep backing everything agreed upon with the Nazi regime in Kiev - or, to put it simply, everything related to the confrontation with Russia."
North Caucasus
The will of the Russian people in the North Caucasus "shows that the region has been and remains a reliable pillar of Russian statehood, a bastion of stability and security" in the south of the country.