Human rights defenders from Northern Caucasus claim intensification of xenophobic sentiments in Russian regions

In the Russian regions, xenophobic sentiments are intensifying. Moreover, authorities, staff members of state institutions and media also adhere to them. This was stated by human rights defenders from the Northern Caucasus in their appeal to Mikhail Fedotov, Chairman of the Council for Civil Society Development and Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation. The authors of the appeal ask Mikhail Fedotov to preserve interethnic accord in the Russian Federation.

"A sane person cannot fail to see that in recent years, nationalist ideas are being spread with the support of certain political forces, financial groups, and the media. A vivid example is presented by the speech delivered by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) faction in the lower house," the appeal states.

The human rights defenders also emphasize that in recent years, state newspapers and TV Channels publish materials and show films xenophobic by nature.

"For example, TV Channels show films, in which all Chechens are presented as enemies of the Russian people and the Russian state... However, even the state TV Channels fail to tell people that recently, more than 1000 staff members of the Chechen MIA and hundreds of ordinary people were killed and wounded when fighting for the integrity of Russia," the appeals emphasizes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has been told by Kheda Saratova that the human rights defenders continue collecting signatures under the appeal and that, as of December 6, the document was already signed by 100 persons.