Hate crimes down, nationalism still strong in Russia - researchers
Hate crimes are decreasing in Russia, but troubling
nationalist sentiments persist, a local rights group has said.
Further, 48 people were killed and at least 211 injured in racist attacks in Russia from January to August, the Moscow-based Bureau for Human Rights concluded after a recent monitoring period.
In a report, the group said that though the number of such attacks is down from 83 reported in the same period during 2008, nationalism remains a serious challenge in the country.
Figures indicate that in Russia, people who come from Central Asia are assaulted the most. For instance, 13 Uzbeks were killed and eight others were injured during the eight-month reporting period.
The problem is particularly serious in the capital, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Where people from the Caucasus states were mostly subjected to attacks in the past, the trends reported in the past few years indicate that racists now mainly target people from Central Asia.
Semyon Charny, an expert from the Bureau who contributed to the report, commented: ``Though Caucasians are still one of the main targets for nationalists, a peculiar myth has been shaped about people from the Caucasus republics, suggesting they could unite and avenge themselves, if necessary. Therefore, nationalists are somewhat staying away from them. On the other hand, Caucasians have already blended into Russian society and are now part of a relatively high social class.``
Charny added that Asians are prone to attacks the most because racists tend to attribute to them being part of the lowest social class and consider them vulnerable.
Further, 48 people were killed and at least 211 injured in racist attacks in Russia from January to August, the Moscow-based Bureau for Human Rights concluded after a recent monitoring period.
In a report, the group said that though the number of such attacks is down from 83 reported in the same period during 2008, nationalism remains a serious challenge in the country.
Figures indicate that in Russia, people who come from Central Asia are assaulted the most. For instance, 13 Uzbeks were killed and eight others were injured during the eight-month reporting period.
The problem is particularly serious in the capital, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Where people from the Caucasus states were mostly subjected to attacks in the past, the trends reported in the past few years indicate that racists now mainly target people from Central Asia.
Semyon Charny, an expert from the Bureau who contributed to the report, commented: ``Though Caucasians are still one of the main targets for nationalists, a peculiar myth has been shaped about people from the Caucasus republics, suggesting they could unite and avenge themselves, if necessary. Therefore, nationalists are somewhat staying away from them. On the other hand, Caucasians have already blended into Russian society and are now part of a relatively high social class.``
Charny added that Asians are prone to attacks the most because racists tend to attribute to them being part of the lowest social class and consider them vulnerable.
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