Kremlin fears Caucasus identity crisis | Eastern Express

Moscow is pushing the North Caucasus to embrace a common Russian civic identity, after official data showed the region still lags behind predominantly ethnic Russian areas. The Kremlin presents the push as a step towards national unity, but the policy touches some of the most sensitive issues in Russia: ethnicity, religion, language, loyalty, and federal control. In the North Caucasus, where local identity remains powerful, the pressure may deepen distrust towards the federal government rather than weaken it. The campaign also creates tension with Russian nationalists, who see civic identity as a threat to the privileged status of ethnic Russians.

In this episode of Eastern Express, Benjamin Lee and his guest Sergei Erofeev, Sociologist at Rutgers University, look at why the Kremlin’s identity project may backfire in one of Russia’s most politically sensitive regions.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Kremlin identity policy in the North Caucasus
02:39 Introduction: Official national identity and regional resistance
06:27 Interview: Regime survival and control
12:05 Interview: Propaganda, hypocrisy, and alternative influences
17:51 Interview: Weakening control and the appearance of strength

🔴 Watch our 24/7 livestream - https://youtube.com/live/9RY46AUtIl4

Bringing you all the latest daily news and updates, TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find world news as seen from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

https://tvpworld.com/
https://www.facebook.com/tvpworldcom
https://twitter.com/TVPWorld_com
https://www.instagram.com/tvp_world/
https://www.threads.net/@tvp_world
https://bsky.app/profile/tvpworld.bsky.social
https://www.tiktok.com/@tvpworld.com
https://t.me/tvp_world

#identity #caucasus #kremlin #moscow