conclusions

Interethnic relations in the Russian Federation are aggravated almost to the limit, the situation is simply explosive. Xenophobic views are widespread in society, and racial and ethnic violence is not something out of the ordinary. At the same time, it should be noted that anti-Semitism is not the most relevant phobia for Russia, and Jews do not stand in the place of "enemy number one" of mass xenophobic consciousness.

Anti-Semitism as a political force is virtually absent in Russia. Right-wing radical parties and movements are in a state of deep crisis. The National Power Party of Russia is currently claiming the role of the flagship of political anti-Semitism. From an abstract scientific point of view, it would be very interesting to see what kind of electoral support such a party can count on in the parliamentary elections in 2003, but the registration of the party "hangs in the balance" and can be canceled even before the elections.

The anti-Semitic card can sometimes be used in regional elections, but without much success. On the other hand, the individual anti-Semite phobia of public politicians, even known to voters, by no means prevents anti-Semites from confidently winning elections. Unfortunately, in Russia there is no standard of public consensus on the rejection of any anti-Semitic manifestations in the sphere of public policy.

Anti-Semitic views are only important to a rather limited circle of right-wing radicals. True, the small number of ideological anti-Semites is relative: there are enough of them to ensure that dozens of anti-Semitic newspapers (albeit in a meager circulation) appear in the country, and in order to from time to time arrange acts of vandalism, or even direct violence and terrorism against Jews.

For its part, the authorities last year began to make targeted efforts to counter extremism in general and anti-Semitism in particular. And if the anti-extremist law causes a lot of complaints, then the efforts of the authorities to suppress anti-Semitic propaganda deserve high praise.