Centre for Combating Extremism

The unit was established by decree No. 1316 of the president of Russia on 16 September 2008.^[1] The unit has been especially active in the North Caucasus and also in Crimea following its annexation in 2014.^[2] It is the main institutition tasked with countering extremism, which it does by monitoring the media and the Internet.^[3]

The unit has been accused of prosecuting and harassing opposition groups, anti-government bloggers, environmentalists and other civic activists.^[4][5] For instance, it has been involved in the suppression of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia after it was declared an extremist organisation in 2017.^[6] 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.^[7]