The Main Directorate for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, commonly known as the Centre for Combating Extremism, or simply Centre E, is a unit within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia officially tasked with combatting extremism.
History The unit was established by decree No. 1316 of the president of Russia on 16 September 2008. The unit has been especially active in the North Caucasus and also in Crimea following its annexation in 2014. It is the main institutition tasked with countering extremism, which it does by monitoring the media and the Internet.
The unit has been accused of prosecuting and harassing opposition groups, anti-government bloggers, environmentalists and other civic activists. For instance, it has been involved in the suppression of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia after it was declared an extremist organisation in 2017. Since 2023, it has also engaged in the suppression of LGBTQ symbolism in the country after the LGBTQ movement was declared an extremist organisation by the Supreme Court of Russia.
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