Vladimir Sokor: Russia uses European conservative political forces to destabilize liberal governments

The Russian Federation uses conservative political forces in Europe to destabilize the liberal governments of the countries concerned, said Vladimir Socor, Senior Fellow of Jamestown Foundation, USA during the 8th Kyiv Security Forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

"Russia's policy on political alliances in Europe has changed. Today Russia is appealing to conservatives and the extreme right-wingers, unfolding politics of the former Soviet Union, which was aimed on the contrary - on the left political wing. They appeal to the conservatives in Europe who are not satisfied with the current situation," - he said.

The scientist stressed that regardless of party affiliation among European politicians there was broad consensus around liberal values. "And this consensus pushed away a certain amount of the Conservatives who are committed to the values of national identity, family. Russia focuses on these dissatisfied ones, portraying itself as a defender of those values in order to destabilize the liberal governments with which it is negotiating," - he said. Vladimir Sokor is sure that Russia incites these conservatives to undermine the internal policy in their countries in the EU. In addition, he believes that the West in general underestimates the challenges brought about by Russia today.

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The annual international event ‘Kyiv Security Forum’, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007 is a platform for discussion of the most pressing issues concerning the security in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum is aimed at promoting security cooperation between the European Union and the Black Sea Region, raising awareness of the development of security among key players and strengthening the role of independent and non-governmental actors in solving security problems in Europe.