Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a “self-purification” to rid Russia of individuals who are working to undermine the country. Russians, he said in a televised speech on Wednesday, “will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and will simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths,” accusing the West of fostering a “fifth column” of Russians to create civil unrest. “And there is only one goal, I have already spoken about it–the destruction of Russia,” he said, adding that he is “convinced that such a natural and necessary self-purification of society will only strengthen our country.” Putin further stipulated that he isn’t “judging those with villas in Miami or the French Riviera” or Russians “who cannot live without foie gras and mussels or so-called gender-based rights” as long as they stood “mentally” with Russia after the Feb. 24 invasion of …