Russia wary of post-Soviet evolution

• Tweet

MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A close adviser to the Russian president said the Kremlin was paying close attention to "events" in former republics of the Soviet Union.

Nikolai Patrushev, the head of the Security Council of Russia, said the Kremlin is keeping a close eye on potential "color revolutions" in former republics.

"Events are in motion in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine; we're dealing with it every day. Are these (events) a danger for us? Yes," he was quoted by state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying.

A series of revolutions in former republics Georgia and Ukraine during the early part of the 2000s brought in new governments that upset status quo relationships with Moscow.

Russia has witnessed growing frustration with Putin's hold on power. He was re-elected to a third non-consecutive term as president this year in elections considered by some observers to be fraudulent.

The Kremlin last week expressed frustration with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said Russian efforts to create a Eurasian trade bloc were tantamount to a move to "re-Sovietize" Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The European government recently launched an anti-trust investigation into Russian energy contracts in the region.