During the 54th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Bodies of the Commonwealth member states in Bishkek, CIS Secretary-General Sergei Lebedev cautioned that the current situations in Ukraine and the Middle East could escalate into a global confrontation.
Addressing the participants, Lebedev, through the voice of First Deputy Secretary General Leonid Anfimov, highlighted the ominous signs of a potential global conflict. He cited not only the geopolitical tensions in Ukraine but also the volatile situation in the Middle East, the rise of neo-Nazi ideology and xenophobic sentiments, and the increased activity of international terrorist organizations as contributing factors.
Lebedev described the "terrible act of terrorism" in Krasnogorsk in March as another challenge to the integration processes within the Commonwealth, emphasizing its implications for security, humanitarian concerns, and social and labor issues.
Since 2021, the CIS has been collaborating on a draft program of cooperation among member states on deradicalization, initiated by Uzbekistan. This comprehensive program extends beyond addressing radicalized individuals and includes preventive measures involving the scientific community, educational institutions, and civil society structures.
Given the "unprecedented growth of tension," Lebedev stressed the imperative of multidisciplinary cooperation among CIS member states in the realm of security. The CIS has established the necessary legal framework, operates an Anti-Terrorist Center to enhance contacts with specialized and international organizations, and is implementing a cooperation program in combating terrorism and extremism for the period 2023-2025.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
Based on materials from TASS