MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/. Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has said that the leaders of extremist groups have been using the Internet and other modern means of communication for propagating their ideas among youth. He was speaking at a conference devoted to priority tasks of international cooperation in resistance to extremism and terrorism on Friday.
"The leaders of radical groups have ever more often resorted to using telecommunication technologies for establishing communication channels and spreading their ideas in the social networks and messengers. In doing so they target mostly young people prone to protest behavior by virtue of their age," Kolokoltsev said. He warned that the "negative influence of radical ideologies poses a threat to the safe existence and development of sovereign states."
"In a situation like this there should be no place for geopolitical ambitions and contradictions. The authorities are consolidating the international community’s efforts for resistance to common challenges," Kolokoltsev said.
He pointed out that the intensity of military conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa resulted in the exodus of refugees from the areas of hostilities.
"Many countries proved unprepared for addressing migration issues, which breeds tensions. As a result, even the countries with stable democratic traditions see an upsurge in extremist sentiment and unprecedented acts of terror streamed live on the Internet. The recent events in New Zealand are a characteristic confirmation," he said.