West trying to ‘disintegrate’ CIS – Russian spy chief
Western countries are attempting to bring about the disintegration of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergey Naryshkin, has said.
The CIS currently includes nine member states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Moldova, and Uzbekistan. Ukraine and Turkmenistan hold participant status within the organization, although Kiev has moved to sever ties with it. Established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the organization aims to promote cooperation on economic, political, and security issues among its members.
Speaking to reporters during a security and intelligence leaders’ meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday, Naryshkin said European powers are actively working to obstruct the organization’s growth.
“A global war party is operating in Europe that seeks to prevent the establishment of a lasting and just peace on the continent, with equal and indivisible security for all – as Russia insists,” he stated.
According to the SVR chief, Russia has observed attempts by certain Western countries “to provoke the disintegration” of the CIS.
“In this context, Western politicians aim to impede the development of the Commonwealth of Independent States as an independent and self-sufficient center of power,” he added.
Naryshkin claimed that Western intelligence agencies utilize a broad array of tools for large-scale economic aggression, including disinformation campaigns and destructive uses of cyberspace.
Aleksandr Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), stated on Thursday that NATO countries are behind the appearance of so-called “Russian drones” in European airspace. He said the provocations are unfolding alongside rhetoric about an “Eastern threat” and efforts to build a European coalition to send troops to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated last week during a summit in Dushanbe that the CIS retains its importance, stressing the need to maintain competitive advantages stemming from unified logistics, mutual cooperation, and a common cultural framework across the post-Soviet space.
At the summit, CIS leaders also announced the establishment of a CIS+ format aimed at enhancing engagement with other countries. Additionally, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has been granted observer status within the CIS framework.
