Putin Warns Of Extremism Threat Ahead Of Elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned today of the threat of extremism and ethnic and religious intolerance in the months before parliamentary elections later this year.

"[These elections] are a very important democratic mechanism of shaping bodies of state power, elected as a result of healthy political competition," Putin told officials from the FSB state security service.

"In this regard, it is important not only to ensure law and order, but also to protect society from attempts to bring ideologies of extremism, ethnic, and religious intolerance to the social and political field."

Putin said more must be done to close "loopholes" for international terrorists and secure Russia's border in the North Caucasus.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org

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Posted January 31st, 2007 by Dinka