The Russian President Vladimir Putin today called on Russian investigators to actively counter any attempt to sow division in Russian society, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
"Those who try to scare people, to sow division in our society, to use religious and national feelings as a tool, will never succeed. An inevitable and just punishment awaits them," Putin said in a video released by the Kremlin.
The statement is on the occasion of the professional holiday of Russian investigators. In Russia, there are investigators in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Investigative Committee and the Federal Security Service. These are the institutions that deal with the majority of criminal cases involving representatives of the opposition and human rights defenders.
"In the framework of the special military operation (in Ukraine), investigative services carry out specific, additional and very important missions, acting, in particular, in an efficient manner in the liberated territories," Putin pointed out, referring to the territories of Ukraine that are under Russian occupation.
"You restore truth and justice, strengthen legality and constitutional order – this is the basis of Russia's sovereign development as a country with a strong legal system and one of the most important guarantees for national security," said the Russian president.
Kiev and its Western allies accuse Moscow of carrying out ruthless repression in the occupied territories of Ukraine, such as arbitrary arrests, torture and extrajudicial executions of prisoners of war. Russia rejects these accusations.
In Russia, repression covers both real and perceived opposition to the war against Ukraine. Thousands of Russians were brought to court for criticism and postings on the Internet.
Most representatives of the opposition are in exile or in prison.