What to do with skinheads?

On November 15, 2004, Izvestia published a discussion on the topic “What should we do with skinheads?” The reason for the discussion was the results of a survey published a month earlier, conducted by the LEVADA Center, on the attitude of Russians towards ethno-nationalists.

Some experts and cultural figures interviewed by Izvestia believe that skinheads are just the tip of the iceberg, a visible demonstration of the xenophobic sentiments of society as a whole. “Russian society itself is ideologically skinhead-like” (M. Arbatova), “Skinheads do not live in a vacuum. How society reacts is how they behave” (O. Kulik), “Skinheads are a powerful type of youth extremism with fascist overtones I think that it is encouraged by adults with a penchant for fascism" (M. Urnov).

We would like to dwell only on some statements.

Police Colonel Gennady Deulya, an employee of the Main Directorate for Ensuring Public Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, believes that skinheads are primarily a social problem: “We must help them find a worthy place in life - educate them, provide them with work. What else can be done with them? ... Skinheads “These are very young guys who haven’t yet had time to make a life choice. They simply have nothing to do, but the state has left the youth without a caretaker... And if you really engage with the youth, and not on paper, then there will be no one to join the skinheads.” .

The leader of Walking Together, Valery Yakemenko, believes that “there is no need to exaggerate the problem of skinheads... Skinheads are exactly the same criminals if they go beyond the legal framework, like any other people. They are not fundamentally different from football fans, and they must be punished in accordance with their actions. And we must ensure that this ideology does not embrace the masses, since in our multinational state it is very dangerous." (Recall that back in 2002, Novaya Gazeta wrote about the numerous connections that exist between the Marching Ones and the skinhead groups; at the same time, observers emphasized the similarity of the slogans of both movements - ed. ).

But one of the leaders of United Russia, State Duma deputy Vladimir Medinsky, believes that “in our country, skinheads are often used by nationalist movements, partly financed by them. Such examples occur quite often in regional elections.” (Recall that another United Russia deputy, Yevgeny Roizman, took part in an anti-migrant rally in June 2004, organized by the well-known Movement Against Illegal Immigration - ed. ).

Sources

• Bad boys do not hit the passport // Izvestia-Nauka. 2004. November 15.