Russia sets up special taskforces to tackle rising separatism and nationalism

The regional authorities of Buryatia set up a team on December 29th dedicated to "the prevention of threats associated with the emergence and spread of separatism, nationalism, mass riots, and extremist crimes". This team will be led personally by the Governor of Buryatia, Alexei Tsydenov.

On the same day, a similar team was established in the Voronezh region, followed by one in the Oryol region the next day. Both these regions are situated in the European part of Russia. Buryatia, on the other hand, is a republic within the Russian Federation, located in the Asian segment of the country - in Eastern Siberia.

The Insider points out that the team being created in Buryatia will have the most diverse composition - for instance, representatives from religious communities were invited.

According to some reports, Putin ordered the creation of teams tasked with combating separatism during a meeting that took place at the end of October 2023. Team members in all regions are expected to meet at least once a month to mitigate the threat of separatism and nationalism.