MOSCOW, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered law enforcement officers to suppress extremist activities as the number of such crimes increased 5 percent in the country last year.

Putin said at the annual expanded meeting of the Interior Ministry Board that countering extremism is one of the ministry's priorities, according to a Kremlin transcript of the meeting.

According to him, some groups incited ethnic and religious intolerance, organized unauthorized public events and attempted to recruit young people via social networks.

"We should firmly suppress the activities of such groups and bring their organizers to justice," Putin said.

Any illegal action aimed at splitting society and destabilizing the situation is a serious threat to the country's security, he added.