How Putin uses “fight against extremism” to exercise total control over the population
russian regions are mandating that officials undergo “advanced training courses on extremism prevention.”
▫️At the same time, public sector employees are being forced, under threat of fines and “disqualification,” to comply with the decisions of the “interdepartmental commission for countering extremism”—a special organization under the control of the russian ministry of internal affairs.
russian media present this as the implementation of vladimir putin’s declared policy of “restoring order.” However, these measures are actually part of a broader effort to tighten control, creating an atmosphere of fear and total ideological conformity in russia.
Under the russian definition of “extremism,” which carries criminal penalties, any disagreement with kremlin policy, including doubts about the necessity of continuing the war against Ukraine or even simply careless remarks, is considered a crime.
By stoking hysteria around “extremism,” kremlin is systematically intimidating its population to eliminate any remaining elements of civil society and democracy.
