The DPNI first came on the scene with its alleged involvement in anti-Armenian pogroms in Krasnoarmeysk in 2003. Media reports indicated that the assailants knew the addresses of some Armenian families and attacked them inside their homes. Now the DPNI is drawing maps of minority-dominated neighborhoods in Volgograd, a project that they may expand to other cities. Will this lead to further pogroms?

Technorati Tags: Russia racism xenophobia DPNI immigration

It's a sign of the times that the Kremlin first appointed Rogozin (former head of the far-right Rodina party) its NATO ambassador, and now has one of his allies at a de facto public diplomacy post in Paris. I wonder if the "British friend" that former Duma deputy Narochnitskaya mentioned is from the British Helsinki Group--an org that has no relation to the Helsinki Federation and has attracted controversy for its support of some post-Soviet and African dictators.

Technorati Tags: Russia nationalism extremist far-right antisemitism

Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union (UCSJ), a Jewish human rights organization that has worked in support of Jews in the FSU since 1970, is seriously concerned by media reports on flyers inciting violence against Jews in Novosibirsk, Russia last week. Hundreds of blood libel flyers were found posted on homes and apartments in that city warning parents to protect their children from "bloodthirsty Jews" ahead of April 2008 Jewish holiday of Passover. The flyers warned that "these disgusting people steal young children, draw their blood and use it to prepare their holy food. They throw the children's bodies in garbage dumps". This terrible and aggressive lie dates from the Middle Ages, when it regularly sparked pogroms, and was revived in the infamous "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", the Beilis trial, and by Nazi Germany. Russian antisemites have used this xenophobic myth against Jews during the Soviet and post-Soviet period.

Technorati Tags: Russia blood libel Jews antisemitism

Two recent stories are indicative of the growing power of the paramlitary Cossack movement. Paul Goble reports that there are more self-identified Cossacks in the Duma now than Communist deputies. On the one hand, this is obviously frightening, but on the other, it shows the obviously ersatz nature of the Cossack movement, since apparently anybody can join (i.e. "we're Cossack too!"). The main question is what makes a Cossack, in their own mind? If it only means being a violent racist who supports the Kremlin 100%, then this is a truly disturbing development.
In a related development, the country's largest Cossack group--the Invincible Don Host--all but promised violent actions against minority Christians.

Technorati Tags: Russia xenophobia sects Cossacks

A brochure put out by the pro-Kremlin youth group "Nashi" exposes the movement's rabidly paranoid worldview. The author of the brochure employs an extremely broad use of the word "fascist" to describe extremist nationalists, far-left opponents of the Kremlin's policies, and pro-Western liberals, characterizing all of them as part of an enormous conspiracy against Russia.

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This story shows the latest poll findings that confirm racist sentiment is rising in Russia. Another story cites President Putin's top political advisor warning that rising xenophobia will destroy the country if present trends are allowed to continue. You have to wonder--if this problem really does threaten the country's future stability (and it does), why isn't the government doing more to stop it?

Technorati Tags: xenophobia Russia racism