The article highlights the importance of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, emphasizes the importance of fostering friendship and harmony between different nationalities, and points out that friendship among peoples is the most important condition for the successful development of our country. Referring to the problem of the state of interethnic relations, in the context of the issue of crimes on ethnic grounds, the activities of penal institutions in the prevention of interethnic conflicts are considered. Priority aspects of work to strengthen relations between representatives of different nationalities are highlighted, and general principles of maintaining friendship and unity between nations and nationalities are emphasized. Conclusions are drawn about the need to form a common system of traditional values as a tool for maintaining harmony between representatives of different ethnic groups in the penitentiary system.