Konstantin Dolgov, the human rights envoy of Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the social unrest spurred by the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, highlights the growing racial problem in the U.S., the Associated Press reported.
Dolgov warned that if these protests continue, they could seriously threaten the stability of the entire country.
“The developments in Ferguson and other cities highlight serious challenges to the American society and its stability,” the diplomat said according to a Russian television network.
The comments made by Dolgov were broadcasted as part of the coverage of the events in Ferguson by state-funded television networks in Russia.
Due to the social issues reflected by the Ferguson controversy and the violent clashes between protesters and law enforcers in the area, Dolgov criticized the U.S. government for not being able to handle its own problems.
He implied that the U.S. is in no position to point out the human rights violations of other countries and intervene in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine since it has its own flaws as shown by the events in Ferguson, according to the International Business Times.
“Racial discrimination, racial and ethnic tensions are major challenges to the American democracy, to stability and integrity of the American society,” Dolgov commented.
“We may only hope that U.S. authorities seriously deal with those issues and other serious challenges in the human rights field in their own country and stop what they have been doing all along recently – playing an aggressive mentor lecturing other countries how to meet human rights standards,” he added.
Dolgov made his comments after more than 60 people were arrested on Tuesday for rioting in Ferguson.
The reaction of those who participated in the unrest was in response to the St. Louis County grand jury’s decision to drop the charges against Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Brown in August, Reuters reported.
Due to the high level of burglary and destruction that took place during the riot, Governor Jay Nixon announced during a press conference that the presence of National Guard soldiers in Ferguson will be increased.
“Lives and property must be protected,” he said. “This community deserves to have peace.”
