RFE/RL - 04.18.2002

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Foreign Diplomats Express Concern Over Rising Xenophobia in Russia...

Diplomatic envoys stationed in Russia have asked Russian authorities to take steps to put an end to attacks by Russian neo-Nazis on foreigners, AFP reported on 16 April. In early April, two black U.S. Marines protecting a visiting U.S. official and his wife were attacked by a group of skinheads on Starii Arbat, a popular shopping street in the center of Moscow. In March, the South African ambassador's wife was burned by a cigarette during an attack by skinheads and the next day a South African government delegation was attacked on Starii Arbat. In addition, many foreign embassies in the Russian capital recently received e-mail messages threatening to kill foreigners in Russia in celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday on 20 April (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 16 April 2002). Swedish Ambassador to Russia Sven Hirdman was quoted by AFP as saying, "There is increasing concern in the diplomatic corps in Moscow about the xenophobic and often racist attacks on the foreign community." MES

...As Moscow Police Prepare to Spoil Hitler's Birthday Celebrations

A spokesman for the Moscow Interior Ministry's main directorate told journalists on 16 April that the city's law enforcement agencies are working together to ensure foreigners safety in Moscow, ITAR-TASS reported. Sergei Shevtsov said the measures include heightened security of embassies and other diplomatic missions. In addition, the head of the directorate, Vladimir Pronin, has initiated a special regime for his police from 19-22 April to prevent attacks on foreigners by Russian neo-Nazis celebrating Hitler's birthday on 20 April. Underground passages and railway stations will be subject to particularly intense police monitoring, according to the news agency. MES