Political statements and reality
On March 29, 2005, the governor of St. Petersburg, Valentina Matvienko, issued a political statement: "All crimes on ethnic grounds have been solved by law enforcement agencies, the criminals will be severely punished . is currently being developed " According to her, a government program to harmonize interethnic and intercultural relations, strengthen tolerance in the urban community. "I declare firmly: we will oppose any manifestation of xenophobia, anti-Semitism and discrimination .