Human rights defender from Kabardino-Balkaria calls Caucasians in other Regions of Russia not to yield to provocations

Valery Khatazhukov, head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Public Human Rights Centre, believes the events underway in Moscow in the context of the murder of Yegor Sviridov, a Spartak fan, are elements of the campaign of deliberate grazing Russian youth with their Caucasian counterparts. Murat Khokonov, a member of the Public Chamber of Kabardino-Balkaria, said that many parents already doubt, whether it is reasonable to send their children to universities in other regions of Russia.

"We are very concerned about the anti-Caucasian hysteria stirred up by some media in Russia and abroad because of Yegor Sviridov's murder and subsequent events," Valery Khatazhukov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his data, over the past two years at least five murders of republic's citizens on the grounds of racial and national hatred were registered in Russian mega-cities. "None of these facts received any press coverage; none of them were thoroughly investigated; and no perpetrators were identified and brought to justice," said Khatazhukov and added that same facts hold for other republics of Northern Caucasus.

The human rights activist expressed fears that the investigation would not be objective and impartial because of the pressure exerted on inspectors. He urged law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough and impartial investigation into all the circumstances of this murder, including Aslan Cherkesov's assertions that he had acted in self-defence.

He also addressed those natives of Northern Caucasus, who study or work in Moscow, urging them not to yield to propaganda of provocateurs who call to retaliatory actions, but to defend their rights and interests by legitimate and civilized methods.

Murat Khokonov, a member of the Public Chamber of Kabardino-Balkaria, Professor at the Kabardino-Balkarian State University, described the situation in Moscow as a "disturbing trend."

In his view, the current instability in Northern Caucasus has no national-ethnic attributes, but has religious character; while what happens in Moscow now, on the contrary, has indicators of anti-Caucasian hysteria."

"Last year, the son of our employee was killed in Moscow; however, nobody tried to politicize this tragedy," said Professor.

In his opinion, it is unacceptable for such a multinational country like Russia to have no concept of national policy.