Russia/Ukraine: Analyst Says Racial Violence On The Rise

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ^ | 19 June 2006 | Unknown

[Romanov]

Xenophobic violence is escalating in both Russia and Ukraine, according to Nikolai Butkevich, research and advocacy director of the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union. Speaking at RFE/RL's Washington office on June 15, Butkevich detailed the increased presence of neo-Nazi groups within Russia and the failure of local political and law enforcement officials to stem the tide. Meanwhile, he said a similar phenomenon is occurring in Ukraine but is getting very little media attention.

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Butkevich has been following the issue of neo-Nazi violence, anti-Semitism, and racial incidents in the former Soviet Union for the past 10 years. And in that time, he had never observed a situation like the one in Russia last April, which he described as "the worst he has ever seen."

"There were at least seven murders and over a dozen assaults attributed to neo-Nazi groups just in this one month [April]," Butkevich said. "Of course, this is the tip of the iceberg. Many of the victims of these crimes are illegally present in the country so they're not going to report them to the police. Many of them have reasons to fear the police."

[Romanov]

On on-going problem, very under reported, throughout the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact.

"the way that the Ukrainian law enforcement officials have reacted to this problem makes the Russians look good"

[Romanov]

Xenophobia Ping!

[GarySpFc]

"Neo-Nazi violence in Ukraine is something that gets almost no media attention, which is mostly focused on what happens in Russia," Butkevich said. "But over the past three years it has really gotten very bad. And this is after years of neo-Nazi violence almost being not even a problem in Ukraine."

And the police response has been wholly inadequate, according to Butkevich: "I have to say [that] as many positive things that have happened over the past year -- I'm not denying the progress -- the way that the Ukrainian law enforcement officials have reacted to this problem makes the Russians look good."

The Ukrainian Nazis are at it again.

[Mazepa]

Title of the thread is "Russia/Ukraine: Analyst says...", and you just see Ukrainian Nazis? :)