Below is Russia’s response to the issue.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4755163.stm

As usual just a couple of rhetorics about the issue. Pretty much similar to what they have said on the murder of the tajik girl. The outcome: 5 years or prison for “Hooliganism”. I doubt they are serious. Moreover, were it not for hosting the summit in St. Pete, the issue would hardly be even mentioned.

But let’s see what follows. BBC, I trust, will keep an eye on developments.

http://vatanweb.net/forum/11-174-1

That’s definitely an interesting point of view. And I totally understand how hard it is especially for you, since you may be considered a “traitor” by some elements of society due to your open views.

“The most effective response to Neo-Nazis’ crimes were large-scale demonstrations, organised by NGOs, political parties and celebreties. I don’t know whether such kind of a civil society response is possible in Russia at the moment, but it would certainly be reassuring to know that it is by no means the entire population that’s being xenophobic.”

Well, I am very glad that these demonstrations worked in the West, but from what I know and seen, Russia has a long way to go. I by no means want to generalize but major part of population in Russia (which reads boulevard press and is mainly a mob that could be orchestrated to do anything the media/government wants) is somehow supportive of any suppresive measures towards foreigners. And here we are not talking about central asians. They equally disrespect anyone who comes to Russia from outside.

That said I must point out to a certain portion of population thinks otherwise and would like to see their country as an open and democratic. Most of these don’t like the state of affairs in Russia and prefer to distance themselves from the mainstream. Their liberal views (more so now) are being interpreted as western ideology and counter “russian interests”. By all counts if you are liberal you are pretty much a traitor.

The strangest thing is that in Soviet times we all somehow managed to live and accept each others differences. I think it was the ideology (perhaps a wrong one) that united people and now in the absense of that all people see is differences.

I agree that there should be more awareness in the West about what’s going on in Russia. And you are right that describing the murder “of an 11-year-old Tajik girl” as hooliganism is … well, nothing short of horrendous.

“Especially since our grandfathers perhaps fought Nazi Germany side by side. Now Russians (who have been killed by thousands because Nazis thought of them as sub-humans) are embracing the very ideology that almost wiped them off the map.”

The analogy is certainly disturbing.

Manuchehr: It certainly reminds me of something. It reminds me of where I am coming from. And I understand the whole debate quite well. Me and my friends were the constant targets of Nazis just because we looked a little too ‘left-wing’ when we were 14-17 or so. So, I can certainly understand your anger and frustration. I too was shocked when the population in parts of East Berlin seemed to silently tolerate what’s going on, some even openly approved and commended what was going on in the streets.

Tajik Boy: “although your comments don’t exactly show how you tackle Neo-Nazism in your country”

Well, just a couple of days ago, a black man was being attacked in Potsdam outside of Berlin. So, the problem persists, although I would argue that the peak of the ‘movement’ seems - at least from my point of view - over. However, the policies that were put into place to tackle the problem were quite ineffective.

The most effective response to Neo-Nazis’ crimes were large-scale demonstrations, organised by NGOs, political parties and celebreties. I don’t know whether such kind of a civil society response is possible in Russia at the moment, but it would certainly be reassuring to know that it is by no means the entire population that’s being xenophobic.

Also, I’d say that most of us Germans have a different attitude towards Neo-Nazism, obviously historic reasons. Most ‘normal’ people feel compelled to go to the streets and demonstrate against such crimes, although participation of these events varied (and it too often took another murder victim to get people to the streets).

Ben, you know what’s ridiculous, and pardon me for saying that …. rediculous is the fact that many sons of the people who fought Nazism are now themselves turning into Nazis, with many poor gastarbeiters finding Moscow and the surroundings as one big battle ground in which they are being attacked, for no other reason than the color of their skin and the stupid assumption that gastarbeiters are taking their jobs. Ben, does it remind you of something?

Perhaps I was a little harsh saying Russians don’t have much culture to preserve. But my point was in stressing the fact that the whole idea of Russian culture/identity in the country is a little vague. In that respect how can you try to preserve something that you can’t define? Are Tatars Russians? How about Kalmyks and Chukchas? If we take all these nations, they are different from what we know as Russians. They have their own culture, traditions and languages. For some reason Russians don’t think they are threat to the Russian identity even though they permanently live in the country. Tajiks, Uzbeks and etc. come to work and trust me they are not active in introducing their culture into the Russian masses. They are there to work and send their money home. They in no way could be a threat in that way.

“I would also say that it is by no means the whole Muscovite population that is being racist towards minorities, although admittedly, levels of racism might be higher than elsewhere.”

There will always be some differentiation between permanent residents and those who come to a particular city (from what I know western Germans have the same problem with eastern Germans). Before Tajiks, Muscovites pretty much look down upon every Russian from suburbs or outside Moscow (they even coined a term “limita” for them). However, nowhere in history such attitude was accompanied by targeted assassinations of certain ethnic groups (be it Armenians, Azerbaijanis or Tajiks). This is what’s very disturbing.

I have also been in Odessa and I haven’t felt a pressure there although the anti-non-Russian sentiments were also widespread there. I think the problem is created in/by Moscow and then inflated by media through the rest of the country. The tone of the reports is pretty much neutral and in some cases even supportive (of Neo-Nazis). That’s what’s most striking.

Especially since our grandfathers perhaps fought Nazi Germany side by side. Now Russians (who have been killed by thousands because Nazis thought of them as sub-humans) are embracing the very ideology that almost wiped them off the map.

“Well… I think that’s a little far-fetched, if not, pardon me, plain ridiculous. I am from East-Berlin and we have a big problem with Neo-Nazis there as well. In your logic, that’s being tolerated by other countries because the world hasn’t learnt from history?”

Thank you for your feedback, but I tend to think that you have misunderstood me (although your comments don’t exactly show how you tackle Neo-Nazism in your country). What I wanted to know why West consistently ignores the problem in Russia? And why Russia considers ethnically motivated crimes (murder of an 11-year-old Tajik girl) hooliganism??? By this time (as the arrest of Khodorkovsky shows) you and I both know that if the government wants to pursue an issue it will find ways, i.e. if there is a will there will be a way. In the issue of Neo-Nazism the government has been mum and dumb.

I think this should send a signal to the West about what Russia is all about. I am just frustrated that it can get away with so much… Is it all about oil?

I know the US does sometime critisize Russia on the violation of human rights (mostly when it tries to tighten the screws on NGOs), but so far it has continued to pursue its course…

Aren’t you a bit harsh saying that “Russians don’t have much culture to preserve to be honest”?

I would also say that it is by no means the whole Muscovite population that is being racist towards minorities, although admittedly, levels of racism might be higher than elsewhere.

It’s interesting for me to hear your opinion, probably also because I am in Odessa at the moment, a city that has historically been truly ‘multicultural’ and seems at ease with its countless ethnic minorities (at least that’s what I could grasp during the last four weeks…).

Also, your last paragraph:
“What I don’t understand is why nobody has so far raised this question and why the real threat of neo-nazism is played down so much by both Russians and the West. History does not seem to serve a lesson here or do you think this is done deliberately so that problem does indeed get out of hand (and require international military intervention which is another way for the world to divide up Russian resources)…”

… Well… I think that’s a little far-fetched, if not, pardon me, plain ridiculous. I am from East-Berlin and we have a big problem with Neo-Nazis there as well. In your logic, that’s being tolerated by other countries because the world hasn’t learnt from history?

I agree that one shouldn’t accept Russian institutionalised racism. But arguing so drastically won’t do any good at all.

The Link: http://www.cpt.coe.int/documents/rus/1998-05-05-eng.htm