Shoigu Accuses West of Using Human Rights and Freedoms to Undermine Society

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu accused Western countries of stripping human rights and freedoms of their original meaning and using them to undermine society. In opening remarks at Russia’s International Week of the Peoples of Russia, he also alleged that evidence-free accusations had become common in international relations.

Shoigu said Western efforts to counter Russia were becoming more aggressive and sophisticated as Russia advanced in what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. He alleged that a campaign was under way to recruit and fund people seeking to weaken the Russian state from within.

He said Russia had no plans to destroy any country and argued that former colonial powers were weakening as peoples once subjected to colonial rule developed a stronger sense of identity and self-determination.

Rejecting claims that Russia was waging a “hybrid war” against Europe, Shoigu said President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly stated that Russia did not intend to attack Europe. He urged Western countries not to attack Russia and to leave it alone.

On talks over Ukraine, Shoigu said European participation in a planned meeting in Abu Dhabi would require discussion and agreement among all parties. He said the delegations would remain at the same level as before, with representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia.

Shoigu said Russia’s strength rested not only on its growing economic and technological sovereignty and military capabilities, but also on the unity of its people, public confidence in the government and citizens’ support for the country’s development goals.