Racism and Xenophobia in January 2014

The following is our monthly review of instances of xenophobia and radical nationalism, along with any government countermeasures, for January 2014. The review is based on material gathered by Sova Center in the course of our daily monitoring.

No fewer than 11 people fell victim to physical assaults by neo-Nazis or other xenophobic groups in January 2014. One man, a Moscow native of Uzbekistan, died from his injuries.

At least four acts of vandalism characterized by hatred or neo-Nazi ideology were recorded in January.

Nationalists held several “people’s gatherings” in January in an effort to stir up xenophobic tension. However, none of them were significant in size.

On January 11, near the Central Stadium in Astrakhan, a gathering was held mourning the death of local girl Galiya Borisenko. Borisenko was allegedly kidnapped and held as a slave by a native of Dagestan. In connection to this action, the local chapter of the nationalist association Russians held a rally “against ethnic crime” on January 20.

On January 15 a demonstration was held in the Novokosino district of Moscow, which in November 2013 became the locale of a conflict surrounding a building said to be a hostel for migrant workers. Some of those demonstrating were detained by police, as media reported. Information about the hostel building is widespread in addition to media outlets, for example on ultra-right websites.

On January 25, the Biryulyovo chapter of the Russians association held a “people’s gathering” in response to the murder of 17-year-old Anastasia Moskovkina, who was pregnant. A young man of “non-Slavic appearance” is alleged to be Moskovkina’s killer.

The ultra-right continued to conduct “raids” in search of “illegal migrants” in January. In St. Petersburg, the local Russians association branch raided shops alleged to be owned by Caucasians in the Krasnogvardeisky district on January 11 and 19. On January 13 in Mytishchi, activists of the Great Russia party participated in a “raid” carried out by the police and the Federal Migration Service.

At least four convictions for racist violence condemned 10 individuals in four regions of Russia this month.

No fewer than 12 sentences against as many people, in 10 regions of the country, were issued this month on xenophobic propaganda charges.

The Federal List of Extremist Materials was updated twice, on January 14 and 24. Paragraphs 2180-2201 were added. The updates include articles from the Islamist website hunafa.com, a mirror of the site Jamaat Takbir, a series of neo-Nazi materials from VKontakte (including videos, texts and commentaries), and the ultra-right-wing site Sturm-news.

Activists in ten cities across Russia held annual actions in memory of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova, who were murdered in 2009 by a neo-Nazi in central Moscow, on January 19. Despite frigid temperatures, 650 people attended an anti-fascist march and rally in Moscow. Several participants were attacked by ultra-right activists after the march.

Protesters in Moscow were not the only ones subjected to threats and assaults by nationalists. In St. Petersburg, Great Russia (Northwest) activists spread threats online in connection with the alleged inclusion of an LGBT faction at the city’s anti-fascist march. The nationalists clarified that LGBT participation would be a “disgrace to the Feast of the Epiphany.” Neo-Nazis clashed with anti-fascist activists on Vosstanie Square on the day. In Perm, a screening of the documentary Love Me, Please, about Anastasia Baburova, was canceled due to threats from nationalists.