Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow should prevent the occurrence of a colour revolution and combat extremism in Russia.

Putin made the remark at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, where a strategy on countering extremism was approved.

Putin said that in the contemporary world extremism is utilised as a geopolitical instrument and is used for redrawing the existing spheres of influence.

In particular he pointed to the threat posed by illegal immigration and radical Internet sites that recruit youth.

The Russian President also expressed his concern of the so-called colour revolutions – popular upheavals that had occurred in several former Soviet republics.

"For us, this is a lesson and a warning," Putin added. The Russian Head of State is particularly worried that the unrest in Ukraine could lead to a similar situation in Russia, especially with the increasing effect of the economic sanctions imposed by the West.

At the same time he is determined that the country will do “everything” to make sure “[a colour revolution] will never take place in Russia,” as the BBC's Russian-language service quoted him as saying.

He put an emphasis on the tragic consequences of the colour revolutions and the concussions through which the peoples of the affected countries had gone through and “are still suffering”.

Citizens of former Soviet states were coloured revolutions were carried out had become subjects to “covert, and sometimes even blatant interference in their lives,” Russia's President stressed.

Despite his popularity at home, Putin continues to be concerned of outside intervention in Moscow's spheres of influence, blaming the USA and the West for trying to subjugate Russia.

He gave as examples of Western interference the overthrow of Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych, who had been backed by Russia, and the instigation of protests against Putin in 2011-2012.