"Sova" held a press conference "Spring 2009: From racist murders to political terror"

On June 22, the Independent Press Center hosted a press conference “Spring 2009: From racist murders to political terror,” in which Alexander Verkhovsky and Galina Kozhevnikova (SOVA Center) took part.

The report noted the main trends of radical nationalism and xenophobia in the spring. First of all, the speakers noted a slight decrease in the number of attacks motivated by ethnic and ideological hostility: in March-May 2009, 68 victims were reported, 14 of whom died (for the same period in 2008 - 151 victims, 26 dead). The largest number of casualties is still recorded in Moscow (15 killed and 55 wounded since the beginning of the year). In the spring, a surge in violence was noted in the Nizhny Novgorod region (at least 3 murders, at least 4 people were injured). In total, since the beginning of the year, 157 victims are known, 32 of whom died.

One of the main trends of recent times is the partial transfer of attacks by the ultra-right from people of non-Slavic appearance to government institutions (police stations, military registration and enlistment offices, etc.).

The activity of DPNI is gradually decreasing. This is partly due to targeted pressure from law enforcement agencies, and the sentence against A. Belov is just one episode of this pressure. At the same time, other organizations with a more radical image are becoming increasingly visible, such as Russian Image, which is trying to expand its influence in the provinces.

Anti-migrant rhetoric continues to dominate the public space, in particular, speeches by state representatives regarding “migrant crime.” Such statements legitimize anti-migrant sentiments.

A positive trend is the obvious improvement in the legal classification of violent crimes of a racist and neo-Nazi nature.

There is no improvement in the quality of propaganda prosecution. Law enforcement continues to focus on minor cases, while the main promoters of hatred remain unpunished. The proportion of suspended sentences without additional sanctions has increased.

Let us note three main spring trends in the unlawful application of anti-extremist legislation. Firstly, restrictions on freedom of conscience continue (Jehovah's Witnesses, Falun Dafa, Tablighi Jamaat, the case of the Forbidden Art exhibition). Secondly, unlawful enforcement associated with the ban on the activities of the NBP is becoming more noticeable. Thirdly, the Moscow Arbitration Court created a precedent for recognizing the responsibility of a publication for comments from readers on its online forum (URA.Ru agency).

The full report of the SOVA Center can be found today on the websites polit.ru and sova-center.ru.

During the press conference, there was also a presentation of the book “Xenophobia, freedom of conscience and anti-extremism in Russia in 2008,” which includes three reports on the main areas of activity of the SOVA Center: “Radical nationalism in Russia and counteraction to it in 2008” , “Problems of implementing freedom of conscience in Russia in 2008” and “Illegal application of anti-extremist legislation in Russia in 2008.”