"Muscovite Code" in an official's presentation

On June 16, 2010, Rossiyskaya Gazeta published an interview with Mikhail Solomentsev, Chairman of the Committee for Interregional Relations and National Policy of Moscow, dedicated to a series of initiatives by the Moscow authorities on "interethnic relations".

In particular, M. Solomentsev presented in general terms a draft of a certain "code of rules for visitors", which is expected to be developed in the near future within the framework of the "Concept for the implementation of state policy in the field of interethnic relations in the city of Moscow."

In our opinion, this presentation was extremely unfortunate, and does not make it possible to define the planned project otherwise than as discriminatory.

M. Solomentsev, in particular, stated: “Moscow is a city whose way of life is based on Russian culture and traditions that have developed over the centuries, and everyone who comes here to live must take this into account <...> As long as there are unwritten rules that the residents of our city are obliged to adhere to. For example, do not butcher a sheep in the yard, do not fry a barbecue on the balcony, do not walk around the city in national clothes, speak Russian ... "

Firstly, discrimination is carried out in relation to those groups that are defined as "non-Russians": it turns out that Cossacks in "national" clothes can go around, but, for example, Central Asians - no; an ethnic Russian Muscovite can fry a barbecue on the balcony, but a native of Azerbaijan who settled in the capital a year ago is not.

Secondly, this statement makes it possible to suspect an official of an unjustified desire to interfere in private life: regulation of clothing, use of one language or another in a private conversation.

Thirdly, it introduces segregation not only according to ethnic and/or religious principles, but also according to some completely obscure “residence requirement”: according to the text, it turns out that a “native” Muscovite (for example, believing Tatars who have lived in Moscow for several generations ) you can slaughter a ram in the yard, but not for the Tatars who arrived in the city recently.

At the same time, it should be noted that the "Concept ..." itself, to which both the journalist and M. Solomentsev refer, emphasizes that Moscow is the historical center of not only Russian, but also Russian statehood, and, in particular, bears function of "development of the principles of responsible citizenship" . And it is puzzling why both interlocutors in the interview proceed from the fact that the concept allegedly says that " "Moscow is not only a metropolis and the capital of Russia, but also a Russian city .

We do not deny, and even support the idea of ​​a code of rules for life and behavior in a metropolis, which is essential for visitors, regardless of their region of origin, ethnicity and religion.

See also the comments of representatives of the SOVA Center on this matter:

Sources

• Dobrokhotov R. "What do you care, mister official, what language do the visitors speak to each other?" // Slon.Ru. 2010. June 16.
• Experts - about the "Muscovite Code" // ASI. 2010. June 16.
• Kozhevnikova G. Is a Muscovite's code necessary? // Grani.Ru. 2010. June 17.
• Pyatiletova Love. Muscovites of the Five Seas: Mikhail Solomentsev: We must bet on what unites the inhabitants of the capital // Russian newspaper. 2010. June 16.