USCJ report on antisemitism, xenophopia and religious persecution in Russia
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Subject: USCJ report on antisemitism, xenophopia and religious persecution in Russia
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USCJ report on antisemitism, xenophopia and religious
persecution in Russia
For Immediate Release: February 9, 2001
Contact: Nickolai Butkevich (202) 775-9770 x107
PRESS RELEASE
NEW REPORT ON ANTISEMITISM, XENOPHOBIA AND RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN
RUSSIA'S REGIONS RELEASED
Elie Wiesel, Religious, Government, and Human Rights Leaders Highlight
Importance of Report
The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews (UCSJ) today issued the second
in a series of annual reports on antisemitism, xenophobia and
religious persecution in Russia's regions. Copies of the report are
available online at WWW.FSUMONITOR.COM. The report, which documents
in detail threats to Jews and other ethnic and religious minorities in
74 regions, finds that:
"While the most violent incidents declined in 2000, Jews continue to
face an infrastructure of antisemitism, grassroots and official, that
has solidified in several regions as local officials have allied
themselves with communist, neo-Nazi, Cossack, Russian Orthodox and
other antisemitic agencies. These forces act with near complete
impunity, sending the message that neither the central nor local
governments will adequately protect Russian Jews." In addition, while
President Putin has made positive gestures towards the Jewish
community and has strongly condemned antisemitism, the brutal war in
Chechnya, the racist campaign against dark skinned minorities in
Moscow and other cities, government attacks against human rights and
environmental NGOs, and the persecution of Russian Jewish Congress
head and independent media mogul Vladimir Gusinsky have all occurred
on his watch.
After reviewing a copy of UCSJ's new report, Nobel Laureate Elie
Wiesel said: "Antisemitism in various parts of the former Soviet Union
has been gaining ground. This is dangerous, and this is the substance
of this report. Obviously the newly won democracy in those countries
has not succeeded in educating their populations on the perils of
racial and religious hatred directed towards the Jews. The situation
has become serious, and human rights organizations as well as
governments must intervene on behalf of tomorrow's possible Jewish
victims."
Other reactions to "Antisemitism, Xenophobia and Religious Persecution
in Russia's Regions: 1999-2000" include the following:
"Information is our ultimate defense. UCSJ's report serves to educate
and inform the public about antisemitism. As our sages say, 'knowing
the illness is already half the cure.' It is particularly important
now, as it comes at a time when we see the Russian authorities
expressing an interest in fighting antisemitism in Russian society.
It is our hope that this report will improve the situation." Rabbi
Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia.
"Russia is once again at the crossroads. The strengthening of the
authoritarian vertical of power is accompanied by the growing strength
of the security services. In seizing power and the minds of society,
these forces use the usual instruments- fear, hatred towards 'the
other,' nationalism and xenophobia. In these circumstances, the
monitoring of societal trends, the violation of human rights and any
occurrences of intolerance is needed by both Russian and the world
community in order to understand the reality of the processes
occurring in Russia. The survey done by UCSJ is a large-scale,
serious and useful work, which in my opinion needs to continue."
Deputy Yu. A. Rybakov, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights
of the State Duma.
"Antisemitism, xenophobia and religious persecution are inherent
components of human rights abuses in every 'closed' society. While no
longer the closed society of the Soviet Union, trends in Russia are
now running counter to the protections of a civil society and in favor
of strengthening the security apparatus. Russian grassroots
neo-fascists, and politicians in Moscow and especially the provinces,
find this hateful phenomenon fruitful soil for deliberately kindling
such lowly feelings and biased superstitions of the population, thus
increasing the temperature of negative public opinion toward human
rights and democracy to a highly dangerous degree. Therefore, the
systematic monitoring and reporting of all forms of xenophobia,
including antisemitism, conducted by UCSJ, are of great importance
today in their own right, when extremist and fascist attitudes are so
strong, but also as a bellwether for assessing the state of human
rights and the infrastructure for a law-based society in general."
Ludmilla Alexeeva, Chair, Moscow Helsinki Group and President,
International Helsinki Federation.
"Once again UCSJ has provided us with a highly informative survey of
manifestations of the persecution of Jews and other ethnic and
religious minorities in Russia's provinces. By comparison with UCSJ
reports in previous years, the new one is broader in its geographical
coverage and more systematic in its presentation. What I found
especially illuminating was the introductory analysis of the mixed
impact of Putin's rise to power." Stephen D. Shenfield, author of the
book "Russian Fascism: Traditions, Tendencies, and Movements,"
published in 2001 by M. E. Sharpe.
In announcing the results of the year-long monitoring effort, Micah
Naftalin, UCSJ's national director, said: "We and our colleagues in
Russia applaud recent statements by President Vladimir Putin pledging
to lead the struggle to end this sadly common blight in Russia's
history. But words without deeds are insufficient. UCSJ's report
provides the roadmap to hate in Russia's provinces and a challenge to
Russian and Western leaders to make concrete action on antisemitism
and related issues a top policy priority."
UCSJ is a grassroots, independent Jewish human rights organization
with monitoring bureaus in Russia and six other countries of the
former Soviet Union that has monitored and reported on antisemitism
and other violations of human rights since 1970.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Nickolai Butkevich
Research and Advocacy Director
Union of Councils for Soviet Jews
1819 H. St. NW, Suite 230
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 775-9770 x107
Fax: (202) 775-9776
[email protected]
http://www.fsumonitor.com
Daily Updates on Antisemitism in the FSU
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