Posted on 10/15/2006 2:23:15 AM PDT by MarMema
On October 5, President Vladimir Putin made “an astounding statement for the leader of a multi-ethnic federative state,” “The St. Petersburg Times” wrote on its opinion page on October 10.
In a speech addressing regional authorities, Putin called on them to “protect the interests of Russian manufacturers and Russia's native population” in the country's outdoor markets. He blamed recent ethnic violence in Kondopoga on poor regulation and law enforcement in the area and called for tough new migration laws. “Putin did not name any particular ethnic group,” the newspaper noted, “but it is no secret that natives of the Caucasus, particularly Azeris, are responsible for the majority of trade in Russian outdoor markets.”
Until the statement, Putin and other officials “trod a careful line, supporting nationalist parties such as Rodina but refraining from making inflammatory statements about Russia's ethnic groups,” “The Moscow Times” pointed out and then quoted Vladimir Pribylovsky, an analyst who tracks Kremlin politics at the Panorama think tank, as saying: “I did not believe my ears when I first heard this. There has been a lot of nationalism, but there has not been any ethnic nationalism until now. ... This is a very dangerous game.”
But which native population did Putin have in mind when he called for the protection of the population’s interest, asked “The St. Petersburg Times.” Kondopoga's native population is Karelian and the town is in the Republic of Karelia that first became part of Russia in 1721 and belonged to Finland between the two world wars. “Even if he was thinking primarily of Azeris, Chechens, and Karelians when he made his speech to the council for national projects, that is not necessarily the way it will be heard,” the newspaper continued. “Recent events are more likely to conjure up thoughts of protecting Russia's native population from the Georgians. This is the clear impression state television is giving as it reports about raids on businesses that police say are owned by Georgian criminal groups and shows the apprehension and deportation of illegal Georgian migrants.” Putin's use of the term “native population” gives a green light for the radicalization of nationalist groups, commented Galina Kozhevnikova of Sova Information-Analytical Center, an independent group that monitors xenophobia.
“The St. Petersburg Times” called attention to “unprecedented harassment of individuals whose only crime was being a Georgian citizen or being born in Georgia.” The “current campaign of racial profiling” and a selective application of the migration law – the deportation on October 6 of 132 Georgians out of an estimated 10 million illegal migrants is a case in point -- reminded the newspaper’s editorial writer of ethnic cleansing. The writer called for a condemnation of this latest campaign and urged all citizens, even if they are from the “right” ethnicity, to remember anti-Nazi theologian Pastor Niemoller’s famous remark that began with “First they came for …” and ended with the chilling line: “When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.”
Thanks for getting me interested in it! I have found quite a bit on it but the above link was one I thought you might be interested in most.
Many of these people aren't immigrants to Russia. They have been there for centuries....such as the native populations in Siberia.
Stalin was the ultimate Russian Nationalist, however.
LOL, the Georgian child you feed today may be stopped from
becoming a Soviet monster tomorrow.
There is nothing wrong with ethnic nationalism (imo).
Look at what diversity is getting the Dutch and French and English - lots of muslims who hate their culture.
Time to wake up and smell the roses.
He was also from Georgia. (Since you mention it).
Oh please. I know Russian churches here (In the US) with folks who send money and food to Georgian Orphanages too. You're just too steeping in your learned nationalism to appriciate it.
steeping?
http://www.iocc.org/news/2-2-06a.shtml
Meanwhile you attack them. Nice.
They're not a fascist group bent on Russian domination, in case you were confused.
You'll note the MP's work with the IOCC
http://www.iocc.org/aboutiocc_partners.shtml
Partnering For Change
IOCC works in cooperation with local, regional and international organizations to accomplish its humanitarian mission. Through these partnerships, IOCC is able to more effectively respond to the needs of people suffering from war, poverty, disease and natural disaster.
Among IOCC’s many partners that make this work possible are the Orthodox Church and its affiliated charitable organizations around the world, including:
Philanthropy (Serbia)
DICAC (Ethiopia)
Lazarus (Republic of Georgia)
Diakonia Agapes (Albania)
Department for Church Charity and Social Service
of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russia)
Maybe they should make clear that Georgians want nothing to do with those evil Russians (Who you call fascists groups bent on Russian domination), and that they'll refuse their aid.
Boy if anyone would know about ethnic nationalism it's you.
You may want to read up on FR policies regarding personal attacks.
I don't expect you to be here for long, so I have been tolerating you and mostly ignoring you. But stalking is something I have seen other posters banned for, just FYI.
I guess if it is good enough for Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm, Stalin and Hitler it is good enough for Putin! It seems to me that the previous 'Grand Strategy', from about the time of Alexander the Great's successors through Rome, Byzantium, the Islamic Caliphates, and even through the Crusades, was a naval supremacy theory based on the Mediterranean basin!
You pinged me to this topic!
You know these days I wonder if it is not Putin's successor that will be the really scary thing. I think we will look back on Putin as a moderate in a few years.
And there is no safety net!!
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