March 2009. Monthly summary

In March, 2009, not less than 16 people became victims of hate motivated violence, including 4 fatalities. In the same period of time, in 2008, not less than 58 victims, including 13 fatalities, were reported.

In all, from the beginning of 2009, 21 people were murdered and 70 were wounded.

As before, Moscow region remains the major center or violence with 11 people dead and 35 wounded from the beginning of the year. St. Petersburg and Leningrad region are the next with 3 murdered and 12 wounded people.

Besides, in March, racist incidents were reported in Chelyabinsk and Yaroslavl. In all, from the beginning of the year, such incidents were registered in 13 regions.

Central Asians remain the most vulnerable group with 12 murdered and 6 wounded people. (As we have noticed before, the fact that the number of murdered people is twice bigger than the number of injured ones, means that the majority of minor incidents goes unreported.) Next are people from the Caucasus (5 dead and 12 wounded) and people of black color (1 dead and 14 wounded).

In March, there were not less than 4 verdicts against 16 people for racist violence in Moscow, Kirov, Cheboksary and Kaluga region. In all, from the beginning of the year, not less than 8 verdicts against 24 people were issued for violent hate crimes.

Neo-nazis from Samara, who attacked antifascists in September, 2008, got suspended sentences, hate motivation not considered by the court. The teenagers, who attacked a Jewish musician in November, 2008, practically escaped punishment: charges were dropped, the court prohibited teenagers to visit public places at late afternoon for 2 years.

There were 2 verdicts against 3 people for non-violent hate crimes in March, in Moscow and Krasnoyarsk krai.

The Federal List of Extremist Materials was enlarged in March. By April 1, 2009, the list includes 361 entries.

In March, 2009, Scientific and Research Center :Memorial;, St. Petersburg, finally managed to prove in court illegitimacy of the search which took place at their office under a pretext of an :anti-extremist criminal case;.