From Russia with Hatred

EDITOR'S MAIL

Vladimir Putin, Russian PM

This report was sent to African News Hungary by the Youth Human Rights Movement International based in Russia. 

  Since 11 December in the two biggest Russian cities, St. Petersburg and Moscow, thousands of football fans, members of nationalist groups and ordinary people, went out to the streets with the slogans "Moscow for Russians", "Russians ahead", "Your children will be responsible to what you did", "Kill!” 

This led to huge clashes with police. Reuters news agency quoted a witness as saying the injured included a number of passers-by, who appeared to be members of ethnic minorities from the Caucasus region, who were attacked by demonstrators. Two metro stations Teatralnaya and Okhotnyy Ryad of the city of Moscow were smashed.

Racially motivated attacks and murders were occurring the whole weekend and the information about more incidents is coming constantly. Moreover several nationalistic actions have been recently announced in Russian cities.

This incident was caused by the death of a fan of Moscow football team Spartak - Egor Sviridov, who was shot to death on December 6 during a street fight with young people from the region of Kabardino Balkaria. His friend Sergey Gasparyan was injured in that fight. During the last week many xenophobic demonstrations have taken place provoking huge discussion in the internet and mass-media.

Only last weekend it was announced that Russia will host the 2018 football World Cup. This incident, which had racist overtones, will cast a dark cloud over this recent success.

Graphic video: viewers discretion advised