No Negotiation with Neo-Nazis!

On January 28, 2009, some of Mass Media reported that Raimkul Attakurov, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Kyrgyzstan to Russia, had twice hold a meeting with Dmitry Dyomushkin, the leader of :Slavic Union; (SS) national-socialist organization. According to the interview with Attakurov at a Kyrgyz newspaper :Delo Nomer; (http://delo.ktnet.kg/2009/03/07.shtml), the ambassador had meetings with one of the neo-nazi leaders in connection to the multiple racist assaults on Kyrgyzstan nationals in Russia.

Dmitry Dyomushkin is the leader of the most well known out of currently active neo-nazi groups. SS methodically advocates racism and violence. A week after the first meeting with Attakurov, the SS website published a congratulatory text of Nikola Korolev who is imprisoned now for an explosion he had organized at the Cherkizovsky market in Moscow which took lives of 14 people. SS activists took part in racist murders and beatings, some of them were convicted for that.

However, Kyrgyz authorities have twice invited Dyomushkin and his :brothers in arms; to Kyrgyzstan, to participate in gatherings of paramilitary athletic organizations held under the aegis of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Ambassador Attakurov plans to organize a round table with SS at :Moskovsky Komsomolets; newspaper and meetings with Kyrgyz migrant workers. So, the Kyrgyzstan authorities which put fighting extremism as a priority in their agenda, knowingly cooperate with Russian neo-nazis and openly talk about it on the eve of the Kyrgyzstan president Kurmanbek Bakiev's visit to Russia.

We strongly condemn such attempts of flirting with neo-nazis. We are convinced, that neither authorities nor representatives of non-governmental associations can cooperate with those who not only advocates racism, but also approves violence as a political action. Therefore, more bewildered we are by the fact, that it was not an ordinary diplomat who met with Dyomushkin, but the ambassador representing Kyrgyzstan in Russia.

Mr. Attakaurov explains his actions as a necessity to take :unconventional measures; to protect the citizens of racially motivated violence. It's true, that although prosecution of such crimes by the law enforcement officials is gradually increasing, it is still far not enough to counteract the wave of hate crimes.

We express our deepest condolences to all the victims of racial violence on the territory of Russia. However, we call on the authorities of the other states as well as Russian authorities and NGOs to avoid such contacts, because they lead only to legitimization of neo-nazi leaders in the eyes of society.

We call on the Russian authorities to undertake measures to protect both Russian and foreign citizens from hate crimes, so that there will be no need to negotiate with aggressive racists.

Human Rights Center :Memorial;

:Sova; Center for Information and Analysis

30.01.2009