Attacks

During the period from January till February 15, 2010 15 attacks motivated by aggressive xenophobia were recorded and 6 dead and 15 wounded were their results. 

The incidents took place in Moscow and Moscow region (3 dead, 6 wounded), Vladivostok (1 dead, 1 wounded), Kaliningrad region and Daghestan (1 dead each), St. Petersburg (6 wounded), Ryazan (1 wounded), Irkutsk (1 wounded). 

The objects of attacks include the Kirghiz (2 dead, 2 wounded), Uzbeks (6 wounded), natives of Africa (1 wounded), Arabs (1 wounded), Azerbaijanis (1 wounded), Tajiks (1 wounded), Buryats (1 wounded). 

During similar period of 2009 16 dead and 36 wounded were recorded, in 2008 – 26 dead, 48 wounded. 

During first half February 4 attacks were recorded and 2 dead and 2 wounded were their results. 

In Moscow on February 9 a 18-year-old citizen of Kirghizstan was killed.

On February 9 a man with “Asiatic appearance” was killed in the South-East of Moscow.

On February 8 in Dolgoprudniy city (Moscow region) a 15-year-old schoolboy attacked a citizen of Tajikistan.

On February 10 in Irkutsk the Buryat was beaten. 
 

Terrorism 

On February 2 a trolley was blown up on the railway track near Bronevaya station of Oktyabrsky railway. It was a luck there were no victims. Some group “NS-WP NEVOGRAD” took responsibility for explosion upon itself; it stated it celebrated the pagan holiday “Gromnitsa” in this way. “Such actions will continue permanently, we will fight against occupational system till our death”, the statement said. Some “Combat headquarters NS-WP Petersburg” published another statement about responsibility for the explosion. “We want to show with our action that there are strong guys and girls in ROD capable to defend the ideals of the white movement with weapon in their arms. We have enough strength and facilities for repeating what we executed in any point of Leningrad region”. 

On February 8, after information about the arrest of supposed shot-firers, the head of organization “Slavic Union” (SS) for North-Western Federal district accused the employees of law-enforcement bodies of calumny stating that a scapegoat is made of the organization for “disguising real shot-firers-trainees only being of more Southern and mountainous origin, with “Nazi hysterics” – such deeds are their cup of tea but not the Slavic one. This is done in order the people would not be indignant and would not arrange pogroms for these “guests”. 

Simultaneously a statement was placed on the Internet on behalf of the group “NS/WP Nevograd” saying that just “two sympathizers” of their activity were detained. They also promised to continue the terror threatening the militiamen: “You wait! We’ll come for you soon!”. 
 

Cracking of websites 

On February 3 in Voronezh the hackers cracked a website of youth department of Orthodox eparchy placing slogans: “Death to Orthodoxy!!!”, “There’s no God! There’s only Lucifer!”, “Don’t go to the church, you are made zombie there!”, “Lucifer will make you free!” etc on the main page of this portal. 
 

Threats 

On February 3 the prefect of the Northern administrative district of Moscow Oleg Mitvol stated he got threats from the organization “Slavic union”. 
 

Spreading of xenophobic views 

According to interrogation of the fund “Public opinion” conducted in January, 30% of the interrogated associate North Caucasus with war, 9% - with terrorist acts and criminality, 7% - with instability, 4% - with aggression and violence, 3% - with fear. 
 

Public response to xenophobia 

On February 1 it became known that the work of the “Hot line” on anti-Semitism was resumed under the Jewish community of Nizhniy Novgorod synagogue. 

On February 2 the travelling exhibition “Common fascism: yesterday and today” was opened in Lev Kassil’s literary museum in Engels. The exhibition is devoted to 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic war. The exposition is composed basing upon authentic documents and materials from collection of the State museum of K.A. Fedin that permit retracing the stages of origin and formation of fascism and show the scope of the world catastrophe the fascism led to. Basing upon the exhibition materials, research fellows of L.A. Kassil’s museum developed the literary-musical program “That way is known not from the books” where they reflect on the notion “fascism”, its sources, manifestations and consequences. The exposition is open for visiting from February 2 till March 1, 2010. 

Members of the Council on cooperation with religious associations and Advisory Council on the problems of ethnic relationship under the Governor of Kurgan region, on the eve of election of deputies of the regional Duma, representative bodies and officials of local authorities on February 4, adopted an appeal to the residents of Trans-Urals. It says: “We call upon the candidates to acting according to the law, being guided not by narrow party or personal interests but to helping the wellbeing of their home region. To not speculating on available problems of the people during the agitation and not inciting interethnic and inter-religious dissension. It is especially important during the political struggle for electors’ votes not to cross the fragile border when sharp statement of problems can turn into extremism and lead to breach of social-political stability”. 

On February 11 the presentation of research expert Center on studying the problems of extremism took place in St. Petersburg state university. The main directions of work of the center include: analysis of informational materials, estimation of regulatory acts in force, complex analysis of information relating to the problems of extremism. “We wait for addresses of the citizens that would inform the center about examples of laws creating a threat for normal existence of the society”, the rector of St. Petersburg state university N. Kropachev stated at the opening. “We are also ready to render juridical and psychological assistance to those who became the victims of extremist manifestations”, the rector noted adding that all the information about the center work would be open. In his turn first deputy head of Directorate of home affairs of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region S. Umnov told that at present militia had already sent to the center about 40 informational materials for expert examination, and totally about 150 texts are being reviewed by specialists now. But the intention of the center leaders to make the expert examinations anonymous under the pretext of providing security of experts caused some vigilance of the experts. The suspicions appeared at once that this would lead not just to security but also to irresponsibility of experts. 
 

Response of authorities to xenophobia 

On February 10 the President of Russia D. Medvedev sent the congratulation to employees and veterans of the ministry of foreign affairs of RF on the occasion of the Day of diplomatic persons setting the tasks for the diplomats to assist in modernization of the country and counteract to the attempts of the history falsification. In the opinion of D. Medvedev, it is necessary to determine the positions of Russia on this problem tougher and talk frankly to the partners “concerning the issues connected with rehabilitation and glorification of the criminals as a matter of fact”. It is necessary to carry on the dialogue with the countries rehabilitating and glorifying fascism without careful diplomatic formulas, he thinks. 

On February 4 the chief of department of the Office of general public prosecutor of RF V. Sizov stated that in 2010 the Office of general public prosecutor of Russia would conduct an inspection of educational institutions regarding observance of legislation on counteraction to extremism by them as well as observance of legislation on languages of RF in educational sphere including observance of constitutional rights of citizens for freedom of conscience and religion. 

Interdepartmental meeting of the Office of general public prosecutor on the problems of enhancing combat against extremism and delinquencies in the sphere of interethnic relations in Far-Eastern federal district took place on February 11-12 in Khabarovsk. 

From February 1 in Archangelsk region the action “Big circle” started directed against xenophobia and extremism. The action will last from February till June 2010, cover almost all the cities and districts of the region and finish with the 2nd Northern interethnic forum to take place on June 11-12 during celebration of the Day of Russia. Within the action several activities will be conducted including holding of lessons of tolerance in the schools, rendering of consultative assistance to the citizens who came to the region from other countries, and various concerts where the region residents would be able to familiarize themselves closer with the culture of other countries the representatives of which live in the region today. The reference point of the “Big circle” would be the route Arkhangelsk – Novodvinsk – Severodvinsk – Primorsky district (Rikasikha settlement) to last from February 16 till February 18. 

On February 3 in Karachai-Cherkess the meeting of the commission under the president of the republic took place on harmonization of interethnic relations and non-admission of extremism in the republic. 

On February 4 in the Center for counteraction to extremism of Chief directorate of home affairs for Chelyabinsk region a round table took place with participation of the heads of ethnic-cultural centers of Chelyabinsk region. The main objective of the meeting was to develop joint measures for preservation of interethnic peace in Southern-Ural region. During the meeting the heads of organizations created basing upon ethnic-cultural belonging and employees of the Center for counteraction to extremism discussed the problems of avoidance and prevention of interethnic conflicts. All those assembled stressed more than once that the problem of interethnic dissension can’t be solved only with efforts of militia. A complex of joint efforts of interdepartmental and public cooperation is necessary. 

It is necessary to develop the target republican program in Komi on the measures for counteraction to extremism and terrorism. The regional public prosecutor Vladimir Ponevezhsky stated this on February 4 at the departmental board meeting devoted to results of the work in 2009. As the Komi public prosecutor stated, law-enforcement and government bodies of the republic should secure observance of legislation on interethnic relations and “admit no incitement of hostility and hatred between representatives of different peoples”. 

Early in February a multimedia manual-reference book “Forming of interethnic consent, building of tolerant relations under conditions of multiethnic society and prevention of ethnic extremism. Peoples of the Republic of Komi” was published as well as printed version of the manual-reference book. The project was implemented in cooperation with educational and scientific laboratory of social-political studies of the humanitarian faculty of Syktyvkar state university, informational-educational center of Russian Germans in the Republic of Komi with financial support of the Ministry of ethnic policy of the Republic of Komi. 

Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Irkutsk region Lyudmila Berlina held a meeting on February 10 devoted to the activity of ethnic-cultural centers of Angara region and their cooperation with regional branch of the party “United Russia”. The meeting was participated by the heads of more than twenty ethnic-cultural societies, representatives of the Government of Irkutsk region, and members of regional political council of the party. The main subject of discussion became the cooperation between ethnic-cultural centers, Legislative Assembly, Government of Irkutsk region, mayor’s office of Irkutsk and regional branch of the party “United Russia” for preservation of cultural traditions of the peoples living in Angara region. 

Problems of forming of tolerance in today’s society, issues of youth policy, culture, sports, law and order and control over drugs turnover in Yugra were discussed on February 10 in Khanty-Mansiysk at the meeting of the board of Department of education and science. First deputy director of the department of education and science Lyubov Koveshnikova stated: “To help the personality in active mastering of various social roles, and the principal of them is to be a citizen of multiethnic country, - this is the mission of today’s school”. Deputy chairman of the committee of social-political analysis and public relations Ilya Verkhovsky noted that it’s necessary to speak about civil conscience, recall more often about the feat of multiethnic Soviet people that released the world from fascism, not only in schools but also in kindergartens and colleges. 
 

Law-enforcement practice 

In January – mid-February 2010 34 persons were convicted for crimes motivated by xenophobia. Two persons were sentenced to correctional or compulsory work, 19 – got suspended sentences, four – were sentenced to fines, four – to 1-5-year imprisonment, four – to 5-10-year imprisonment and one – to 10-15-year imprisonment. 

During similar period of 2009 21 people was convicted for crimes motivated by xenophobia, in January 2008 – 43 persons. 

During the period of February 1-15 15 persons were convicted for crimes motivated by xenophobia. One was sentenced to 10-15-year imprisonment, three – to 1-5-year imprisonment, nine – got suspended sentences and two were sentenced to fines. 

On February 1 the Supreme court of RF acknowledged that activity of National-socialist society is of extremist character and prohibited it. The Office of general public prosecutor of Russia insisted on this before. 

Novosibirsk regional court passed a sentence on February 2 on five young men accused of murder of a citizen of Tajikistan in October 2008. Only one of the accused was found guilty. He was sentenced to 13-year imprisonment. The others were accused only of beating. They got suspended sentences from seven months to one year of imprisonment. 

On February 2 the sentence was passed on A. Kazbanov who tried to create an extremism community on the territory of Vorkuta. The court pronounced a suspended sentence of 2,5-year imprisonment on him.

On February 2 the justice of the peace of judicial district No 12 of Pervomaisky district of Vladivostok found citizen L. who placed the picture of swastika on website “Shield of Simargl” guilty and sentenced him to the fine of 500 rubles. 

On February 3 in Voronezh the court passed a suspended sentence of 1-year imprisonment on the student of historical faculty of Voronezh university, ideologist of creation of website “Islam in Voronezh” Anton Yevstratov for incitement of ethnic dissension via the Internet. 

Vyborgsky district court of St. Petersburg passed a guilty sentence on February 4 on the criminal case against local residents – 20-year-old Konstantin Bykov and three persons under age who attacked an Azerbaijani in June 2008. The court sentenced Konstantin Bykov and one of those under age to 4-year imprisonment each with serving of punishment in general regime correctional colony. The others got suspended sentences of 3,5-year imprisonment with 4-year trial period. 

On February 4 Kirovsky district court of St. Petersburg sentenced the editor-in-chief of newspaper “Orthodox Rus” Konstantin Dushenov accused of inciting hostility using mass media, to 3-year imprisonment in colony-settlement. Two of other persons involved in this case – Alexander Malyshev and Pyotr Meleshko – got suspended sentences of 1,5-year and 1-year imprisonment correspondingly. The sentence on K. Dushenov is a precedent case – for the first time the famous ideologist of Russian radical nationalism got the real term of imprisonment. 

On February 8 the Supreme court of RF prohibited the activity of organization “Imarat Caucasus” as of a terrorist one. 

On February 9 the court passed a sentence on coordinator of DPNI-Voronezh O. Chernyavsky accused of causing severe bodily injuries (clause 111 part 1 of CC of RF). This clause was re-qualified to clause 114 of CC of RF (exceeding the limits of justifiable self-defense) and O. Chernyavsky was sentenced to paying the money compensation to the aggrieved. 

On February 4 the Supreme court of Chuvash Republic remained the decision of Kalininsky district court of Cheboksary valid on the students of Cheboksary colleges Mikhail Oreshnikov and Alexey Maslennikov who set the district militia station on fire in Cheboksary within so-called “day of revenge” on May 5, 2009. 

Early in February the Federal list of extremist materials was replenished again. Up to the present it numbers 489 items. The “novelties” include the book by one of “patriarchs” of Russian anti-Semitism V. Yemelyanov “Jewish Nazism”, materials of website “Big game”, brochure “Racial hygiene and demographic policy in national-socialist Germany”. 

On February 2 it became known about completion of investigation on the case of 43-year-old resident of Yartsevo town (Smolensk region) who drew xenophobic graffiti on the walls of a house in 2007. 

On February 1 criminal proceedings were instituted against 3 residents of Arkhangelsk region who created a website on which the investigator found the indications of incitement of interethnic hostility. 

On February 11 the public prosecutor of Amur region Nikolay Pilipchuk approved the indictment on criminal case against the 1st-year student of Blagoveshchensk state pedagogical university Dmitry Sidorov who wrote and stuck a xenophobic leaflet. 

On February 2 it became known about investigation of criminal case against 19-year-old student of one of Cheboksary colleges accused of drawing xenophobic graffiti. 

On February 8 it became known about institution of criminal proceedings against the 3rd-year student of Far-Eastern state technical university concerning drawing of pictures and making of inscriptions in public places of Vladivostok by him humiliating the dignity of a group of persons basing upon their language and origin in June 2009. 

On February 10 the investigatory directorate of the Investigatory committee under the office of public prosecutor of RF for Arkhangelsk region and Nenets autonomous district instituted criminal proceedings concerning the fact of inciting ethnic hatred and hostility (clause 282 part 1 of CC of RF) against a resident of Severodvinsk who placed xenophobic materials on the social network “Vkontakte”. 

On February 5 it became known that the Department of home affairs of Krasnogorsk district of Moscow region, on the instructions of the Office of general public prosecutor of RF and application of members of the party “APPLE”, conducts the inspection of actions of youth movement “Locals” that issued migrant-phobic stickers early in December. 

Early in February in St. Petersburg the suspects of blasting the trolley on February 2 and arrangement of almost 10 low-capacity explosions in various districts of St. Petersburg were arrested – members of organization “Slavic union” (SS) I. Gritskevich and V. Smirnov. 

On February 8 in St. Petersburg 20-year-old Valentin Mumzhiyev and 19-year-old Georgy Timofeyev were arrested being suspected of a murder of native of Ghana late in December 2009.