Putin voices concern over rise in 'subversive funding' from abroad

Moscow, Apr 26 (UNI) Russian President Vladimir Putin today voiced serious concern over the rise in the use of money from foreign countries to interfere in his country's internal affairs.

''Let us face it, not everyone is pleased with our country's stable, ongoing development. Some elements are disingenuously using pseudo-democratic rhetoric and would like to put the clock back, some to continue plundering our national wealth as they did in the past, robbing the people and state, and others to deprive our country of its economic and political independence'', President Putin said in his annual state-of-the-nation address to the joint session of the Russian parliament.

''There is a growing inflow of funds from abroad that are being used to interfere in our domestic affairs'', he said, adding that certain interest groups were using ''dirty technology'' and stirring up inter-ethnic and religious strife in the country.

Mr Putin urged the Federal Assembly, the upper house, to expedite the passage of amendments to existing laws imposing tighter penalties for ''extremist actions''.

''Someone is resorting to the dirtiest technologies in an attempt to fuel inter-ethnic and inter-religious discord in our multi-ethnic and democratic country, he said.

UNI