Russia criticizes Western geopolitical influence and treatment of citizens

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any country, including Russian partners in Central Asia, could become a victim of Western-organized ‘color revolutions’ and geopolitical expansion. Lavrov accused Western powers of artificially creating tension and crises, specifically citing the expansion of NATO toward Russian borders and support for the Ukrainian government.

Regarding Central Asia, Lavrov noted that while the region remains stable for international cooperation, new risks are emerging from external actors pursuing geopolitical goals without regard for local interests. He also commented on Afghanistan, stating that the difficult legacy of the two-decade presence of the United States and NATO will take significant time to overcome.

Separately, Russian officials addressed the treatment of Russian citizens abroad. Following the detention of Russian blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk in Montenegro, Maria Zakharova highlighted what she described as a global ‘hunt for Russians’ initiated by Washington, advising citizens to exercise caution when traveling abroad.