After the election victory

Putin goes on the hunt for “traitors”

Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is calling on the domestic secret service to take tougher action against members of the opposition.(Bild: AP)

Following the celebrations to mark his election victory and the tenth anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, the re-elected Russian ruler is now returning to the fight against internal enemies. In a speech to representatives of the FSB domestic intelligence service, Vladimir Putin called for a hunt for the country's "traitors".

They must all be identified by name and punished, Putin said on Tuesday in a conspicuously angry tone. "We will punish them without a statute of limitations, wherever they are." Russia would never forget these traitors who had committed crimes against the country. 

"Sabotage and terror groups"
Putin also referred specifically to the attacks in the Russian border region of Belgorod, where civilians were recently killed again. There had been massive shelling there, particularly in the days of the presidential election from Friday to Sunday. Putin had spoken of terror aimed at disrupting the vote. According to him, the "sabotage and terror groups" include regular soldiers from the Ukrainian armed forces as well as mercenaries and other "riffraff" - including Russian citizens.

The attacks on the Belgorod border region are not only being carried out from Ukraine, but also by "enemies" within the country.(Bild: AFP)

"We are dealing with a dangerous opponent"
"We are dealing with a strong, dangerous opponent who has a wide range of information, technical and financial resources in his arsenal." Putin also recalled the blowing up of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines laid through the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. In order to survive in the battle, the Kremlin chief instructed the FSB to intensify cooperation with foreign intelligence services. 

The defensive capabilities at Russia's borders must be strengthened, for example by increasing the effectiveness of mobile units, said Putin. This meant not only the land routes, but also the sea routes, including in the Black Sea. The FSB is also responsible for border protection in Russia.