Putin: Separatism in Russia Was Supported From Abroad

MOSCOW, December 4 (Sputnik) — Separatism in Russia was evidently supported from abroad in a bid to make the country follow Yugoslavia's scenario, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Thursday.

"Despite our unprecedented openness, despite the fact that we looked at yesterday's enemies as our close friends and almost our allies, support for separatism in Russia from abroad — informational, political, financial, and by intelligence services — was absolutely obvious," Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly.

"And I have no doubt that we would be happily let to follow the Yugoslav scenario of disintegration and dismemberment with all the tragic consequences… It did not work. We did not allow [it]," the president added.

Adjusting International Law to Serve Someone's Interests Inadmissible

It is impermissible to adjust the rules of someone's opportunistic interests to the international law, Vladimir Putin stressed.

"Understanding the role and importance of international law, which we talk so much about, [it is necessary] not to adjust it to someone's opportunistic interests, contrary to the fundamental principles and common sense, considering everybody around to be poorly educated people who can not read and write" Putin said.

Moscow has previously stated that international law was breached by the European Union, the United States and their allies by imposing sanctions against Russia over its alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis.

In Vladimir Putin’s October speech at the 11th meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, the president stated that international law was pushed out of world politics, giving way to "biased judgments."