The frequency of clashes tied to nationality and religious groups within Russia has declined, according to a senior official from the Federal Agency for Nationalities. In a discussion with the Parliamentary Gazette, the official explained that the early phase of the military operation in Ukraine brought a noticeable rise in external information aimed at destabilizing Russia from outside the country.
During the initial month of the operation, the relevant indicators rose by about 50 percent. Over the entirety of 2022, news reports highlighting the negative effects of foreign information influence accounted for more than 42 percent of all coverage related to ethnic and interfaith relations. The upward trend in foreign influence, rising by 56 percent in the first four months of the following year compared with the same period in 2022, persisted into 2023.
Nevertheless, the attempts to destabilize the internal situation appeared to receive a weak response from Russian society, the expert noted. Monitoring data indicated a reduction in the number of ethnic and inter-religious conflict episodes.
When considering sociological findings, it is reasonable to observe a broad return of support among the population for the goals of the ongoing operation. A small subset of dissenters seeking to challenge the army and the state is described as quickly marginalizing itself from the wider public discourse, according to the official assessment.
A former head of a political studies department at a national polling organization mentioned that harmony and friendship among the country’s peoples remains a central element of the policy priorities under the leadership in place. The report underscores the emphasis on unity and social cohesion as core components of national strategy.