Opening the meeting, Magomedsalam Magomedov thanked members of the Presidential Council for Interethnic Relations, the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs, the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, the House of the Peoples of Russia and all national cultural associations for their solidarity and assistance to the injured in the March 22 terrorist attack, prompt consolidated response to the instigators and vigorous support for interethnic accord in society.
Speaking about the presidential election, Magomedsalam Magomedov noted the positive results of the large-scale work on the interaction with national cultural associations and religious organisations at the federal and regional levels: “We have shown the unity of our multi-ethnic people. We did not allow any attempts to politicise the ethnic agenda and destabilise the situation on interethnic grounds. High figures of support for the President show that the citizens of our country have appreciated the positive changes, responded to Western pressure and demonstrated their unity. In our permanent efforts in the area of interethnic relations, we have also achieved good results that we could show during the election campaign.”
We also summed up some results of implementing the state ethnic policy in 2023. Thus, the key indicator – assessment by the population of the status of interethnic relations – is stable in the country overall, with about 80 percent of the population positive about it. Over 80 percent of citizens do not feel any dislike for people of a different ethnic origin.
It was noted that most experts consider the migration factor the main challenge to interethnic stability. Speakers emphasised the need to continue preventing ethnic extremism and the formation of ethnic enclaves. It is also necessary to work harder to reveal and prevent ethnic and religious conflicts.
Members of the Council presidium also discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations, to be chaired by the President.
The participants also paid attention to fulfilling several presidential instructions. Head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs Igor Barinov made a report on this.
In conclusion, the presidium members made a decision to start a 2024 competition to win the presidential prize for a contribution to enhancing the unity of the Russian nation.
In the end of the presidium meeting, the participants made relevant decisions.