Separatism and terrorism continue to pose a serious threat to Russia.

A statement to this effect was made by President Medvedev as he addressed the Global Policy Forum in Yaroslavl.

Russia’s years-long efforts to combat terrorism have weakened terrorist groups but the struggle is not over yet, the president said.

Dmitry Medvedev outlined a number of new challenges, including inter-ethnic tensions which feed on an increase in the number of Caucasus residents in mainly Russian-populated regions and a decrease in Russians living in the Caucasus.

Another cause of ethnic discord, the president said, is the growing gap in people’s incomes which leads to stratification of society, fuels ethnic strife and encourages xenophobia among socially disadvantaged groups. Tweet