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RUSSIA
(2008)
Semen Charny
Anti-Semitism in Russia in 2008: major manifestations and trends
In 2008, anti-Semitism remained an important and integral part of the ideology of political movements and organizations professing xenophobic views. A good illustration of this may be the words of one of the ideologists of radical nationalism Sevast’yanov announced in December 2008, “In my opinion, we must be anti-Semitic. This will be the only correct conclusion from the whole history of Russian-Jewish relations.”
Such views are characteristic of Russia’s far-right: radical nationalists, neo-Nazis of various kinds, religious extremists. Major organizations of Russian radical nationalists active in the 2008 include the Movement against Illegal Immigration divided into two factions, the political party People’s Union non-registered National Sovereign Party of Russia, the Union of Russian People of Nazarov, and some others. The legislative branch of Vladimir and Tver regions, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk have mps that are close to those organizations. The banned Islamist Hizb ut-Tahrir party and a number of small organizations practicing radical Islam (the so-called Wahhabis) are also active in Russia.
In the West, anti-Semitic component of ideology of some right-wing conservative parties is waning, while Islamophobia is rising. In Russia, the extreme rightists are the main carriers of political anti-Semitism. The nationalist right-wing conservative trend in Russia includes the country’s largest opposition force – the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) led by Zyuganov and a number of ideologically close affiliated organizations, which are considered dead by the leftists only by tradition. In 2008, anti-Semitism in the Communist Party was particularly obvious during the presidential election campaign (January-February 2008) and at the 13th Congress of the Communist Party (November 2008). In their public statements, Zyuganov and other party leaders actually point to “Jewish domination” over Russia. As is known both in Russia and in Europe, this myth has always been actively spread by the far-right, radical-nationalist forces.
In the West, anti-Semitism (in the form of “anti-Zionism”) plays an important role in the ideology and rhetoric of the left-wing parties and left-liberal circles. It is very popular among prominent intellectuals, including university professors. This “new anti-Semitism” is actively supported by a significant part of the Muslim population in the European Union countries, encouraging violent acts against Jews. In Russia, it is not necessary to speak of the emergence of any kind of “new anti-Semitism”. This “anti-Zionism” (in Soviet times, inextricably linked to anti-Semitism) is a weapon of the ultra-rightists. At present, anti-Semitism in the form of “anti-Zionism” is actively supported by some prominent members of Russia’s Muslim community. However, the majority of Muslim clerics prefer not to participate in the activities of their radicals.
The existence of anti-Semitism in Russia’s political life is not accidental: anti-Semitic prejudices have been firmly planted in the minds of the most of the Russian society. According to sociological studies of recent years, many people to one degree or another dislike the Jews and are in favor of limiting their civil rights. Around 15% effectively advocate the establishment of “the Pale”, while 40% favor restrictions of the "undue influence" of the Jews on the politics, culture and economy. However, anti-Semitic sentiments in Russia are not converted into election campaign support. Radical nationalists, pedaling their anti-Semitism, suffered defeat in the regional and local elections in 2008.
No decline has been registered in anti-Semitic activities in Russia in 2008. According to the monitoring of the expert group, a total of 57 crimes of anti-Semitic nature were registered in Russia in 2008, which corresponds to the level of 2006–2007. All over Russia, the sale of anti-Semitic literature continued in large and respectable bookstores and in various retail outlets, including kiosks in government buildings. At the beginning of the 21st century, Russia is almost the only European country where internet sites, publications and media openly spread the “blood libel” – accusations of the Jews committing ritual murder of Christians. In 2008, this medieval superstition was for the first time reflected even in official publications and university lectures. A study of school textbooks in 2008 showed that they often keep silence of the Holocaust. In 2008, anti-Israeli statements and public actions took place, as in 2007, mostly originating from Islamist circles. One of the most active makers of such statements was Nafigulla Ashirov, member of the Council of Muftis of Russia (SMR). However, anti-Israel sentiments are not dominating Russia’s society.
In 2008, the state increased the intensity of struggle again extremist crimes, including crimes of anti-Semitic nature. The number of criminal cases brought to the court increased significantly, including in the areas that were previously ignored by the law-enforcement bodies: the publication of anti-Semitic literature, publications in the Internet, posting of flyers, and anti-Semitic graffiti. State registration of crimes and offenses motivated by xenophobia and anti-Semitism has improved, too. But all this has not yet led to a decrease in the number of anti-Semitism in the country.
Crimes and offenses motivated by negative attitudes toward the Jews
According to the monitoring of the Expert Group, a total of 57 crimes and offenses motivated by anti-Semitism were registered in Russia in 2008, including crimes of violence and non-violent crimes.
Ten cases of attacks on synagogues, community centers and other Jewish organizations were registered, as well as desecration of their buildings (in 2006 – 16 cases of attacks and desecration of premises occupied by Jewish organizations, in 2007 – 10). Eight cases of attacks or attempted attacks on Jewish people (in 2006 – 7 attacks on Jews, in 2007 – 8) were registered. Nine cases of desecration of Jewish graves and monuments to Holocaust victims (in 2006 – 5, in 2007 – 14) and 30 cases of anti-Semitic graffiti on monuments and walls, posting and handing out of leaflets of anti-Semitic nature. In comparison with previous years monitored by the Expert Group, in 2006-2008 the level of attacks or attempted attacks on Jews, attacks on synagogues and other premises occupied by Jewish organizations, as well as desecration of graves or memorials to the victims of the Holocaust remained the same. A surge of attacks on synagogue reported in 2006 was a clear imitation of the “heroism” of Koptsev in January 2006, the massacre in a Moscow synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya Street.
Non-Jewish houses of worship also became victims of anti-Semitic acts of vandalism. Thus, in December 2008, an Orthodox church was burned down in Yekaterinburg. Militant pagans left anti-Semitic graffiti at the crime scene.
A relatively small number of attacks on Jewish people against the background of the significant growth of attacks on “non-Russians” in general is due to the difficulty of identification of Jews among the inhabitants of large cities (where most of the Jewish community in Russia reside). Not accidentally attacks were mainly committed either against the Jews gathered in community centers or employees of Jewish organizations or Jewish residents of small towns where everyone knows who is who. In addition, in the eyes of skinheads who commit the majority of such attacks, the Jews, unlike the so-called “black”, “Asians” and so on, are not the main enemy.
The slight decline in 2008 in the number of cases of cemetery vandalism can be explained by the fact that the law-enforcement bodies got actively enough engaged in pursuit of people defiling the graves. Anti-Semitic activities seem to be turning more into graffiti on the walls of buildings, monuments, etc.
The motivation and incitement to hostile actions against the Jews
1. A nationalistic rally in Moscow on April 5
2. Sales of anti-Semitic literature
3. Anti-Semitic "public events"
4. Anti-Semitic publications in the mass media and in the internet
1. On April 19, a nationalistic rally sanctioned by the authorities took place in Moscow formally directed against political repressions (under “political repressions” radical nationalists mean prosecution of perpetrators of crimes motivated by xenophobia). The rally was sponsored by the Slavic Union (SU), DPNI and NDPR, the Union of Orthodox Banner-Carriers, the Russian National-Bolshevik Front and supporters of nationalist and notorious anti-Semite B. Mironov. Among the slogans of the demonstration was a demand to bring down Articles 280 (public inciting of extremist activities) and 282 (incitement of national, religious and social enmity) of the Criminal Code of Russia as an alleged violation of the Constitution of Russia and of international laws. Some slogans were openly anti-Semitic: "Jewish mafia in Russian Kremlin commits crimes in our land!", “Jewish fascism - nothing is worse!”, "Russians! Defend Russian heroes!” and "Down with RUSSIAN Article 282 of Criminal Code!". Some posters had swastika on them. One speaker said that "the Zion fascism is worse than German”. The rally was attended by several hundred people.
In Penza, a similar rally was attended by about 100 people - supporters of the Union of the Russian People and the Communist Party. One of the main requirements of the participants was abolition of Article 282.
2. Throughout the whole territory of Russia anti-Semitic literature continues to be sold in large and respectable bookstores and in various retail outlets, including book kiosks in government buildings. For example, in the building of the Stavropol Regional Duma works were sold of such leading figures of anti-Semitism as Klimov, Platonov, and Istarkhov. The local authorities did not respond to requests from the participants in the seminar on legal education, held in the building of the Duma, to stop the spreading of anti-Semitic literature.
Traditionally, such publishers of anti-Semitic literature as the “Algorithm” and the “Russian Truth” continue to participate in book fairs at the All-Russia Exhibition Center in September and March, despite the protests of the Jewish and human-rights organizations.
3. 2008 saw a whole number of public events with anti-Semitic slogans and appeals.
On March 26, members of the local branch of the Union of the Russian People held a rally in Samara, which they described as the “standing prayer” about “God’s help” to accused K. Dushenov, editor of one of the most radical anti-Semitic newspapers in Russia – the “Orthodox Russia”.
On April 18, a rally was held in Buzuluk by local supporters of the Union of Russian People in defense of the editor of the “ For Faith, Tsar and Fatherland” newspaper against whom a criminal case has been started according to “hate crimes” Article 282.
On June 6, 2008, a memorial evening was organized in memory of B. Koverda, murderer of the Soviet ambassador in Warsaw, Voikov, at the meeting hall of the International Fund of Slavic Literature and Culture. There, President of the Moscow Department of the Union of Russian People, Nazarov, “explained” the meaning of Koverda’s honor. He said, in particular, “…Today’s authorities continue to identify with the kikes, Bolsheviks and thieves…”
On July 29, hundreds of radical nationalists held a religious march in Moscow, timed to the 90th anniversary of the death of the royal family. They were selling books and pamphlets, including the book “Why We Hate Jewish Mafia” and “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
4. On July 3, the Slavic Union addressed its internet readers, encouraging them to remember the victory of Svyatoslav over the Khazars, which allegedly took place on July 3, 965. “In a cunning blow, Svyatoslav destroyed the authority of kikes in the Khazarian kaganate. The Russians won. Tomorrow is the day of our pride. Pride for our ancestors who defeated the evil. They did it. THEIR BLOOD IS YOUR BLOOD. DO IT, TOO!” the statement prompts.
On October 27, an article was published on the website of the “ Russian Line” nationalist news agency, containing “a rebuke” to Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berl Lazar who had opposed the teaching of the "Fundamentals of the Orthodox Culture" in schools under the label of “moral and spiritual culture.” Jewish students, just like all other non-Orthodox Christians, were offered "to observe with humility the way in which Russia is returning to its spiritual roots" and “stagnate in their misbelieves until the light of God’s grace shines upon them”.
The “ Labor Tyumen” newspaper published an article “A Fig of a Lawyer’s Son” in October 2008, containing a number of disparaging assessments about the Jews and calls to restricting their rights.
Formation of negative ethnic stereotypes about Jewish people, Jewish identity claims to denigrate opponents
1.Speach of Zyuganov at the 13th Congress of the Communist Party, “dispersal of the kiking Leningrad city council”, anti-Semitism in the Communist Party election campaign
2. Anti-Semitism in local elections
3. Anti-Semitic public statements by some officials
1. On November 29-30, 2008, at the 13th Congress of the Communist Party, its leader Zyuganov declared that the Russians have been “removed from the decisive influence on the political, economic, informational and cultural life of the country.” “Look at the oligarchs who are actually running the country, at the list of those who dominate the media – and I won’t have to prove anything to you,” he said. In truth, without even mentioning the word “Jews”, Zyuganov reproduced the anti-Semitic cliché about the “Jewish domination” among major industrialists and journalists. Chairman of the Central Control and Auditing Commission, one of the main advocates of the so-called “Russian socialism,” Nikitin, said: “We must build Socialism in Russia on the basis of the Russian people’s worldview rather than the worldview of Americans, Brits, Israelis, and other nations.”
The nationalist wing of the Communist Party perceived the congress and its outcome as a “dispersal of the kiking Leningrad city council,” the defeat of the group that had been “paid by the Jews”, and “the transformation of the Communist Party into a true Russian party”.
At the regional and municipal elections on March 1, 2008, the Communist Party supported dozens of nationalist candidates who were actively using anti-Semitic rhetoric.
In the propaganda newspaper of the Pskov Regional Committee of the Communist Party “ Pskov Spark”, 50 000 copies of which in February, published an article by V. Akbulatov “The Wandering Jew Yet Again!” In which Jews were accused of all the troubles experienced by Russia in 1917. Chief of Staff of the Communist Party leader and Zyuganov’s representative in Pskov region, Sergey Gogolev, said that he saw nothing offensive in the article. He argued that “the Russian-Jewish coexistence in the government is disproportionate” and the same imbalance was observed in the 1920-s. Thus, Gogolev reproduced the anti-Semitic myth of “Jewish domination”. This passage seemed quite juicy coming from the mouth of a man who represents the party which considers itself the heir of the RCP-CPSU (b) – Communist Party, whose senior members belonged to the same Jewish people that were so lashed against in the article. However, this was not a marginal episode but part of the “general line” in the campaign of the Communist Party, which places emphasis on all presidential candidates being “non-Russian” with the exception of Gennady Zyuganov. In his speech on February 11, Nikitin declared that the leader of the Communist Party is the only presidential candidate who is Russian in spirit. Later, this declaration was reprinted by Zyuganov’s website. He said that A. Bogdanov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Dmitry Medvedev “do not have strong roots linking them with the constituent of the Russian people. So, they do not genetically inherit the Russian worldview.” He also mentioned the allegedly ongoing genocide of the Russian people, as well as the fact that “the country, finance, and media are run by those who make less than one percent in Russia” (Nikitin was referring to the Jews, without mentioning the word “Jews”).
Since 2008 was the year of the presidential elections, the technology of identifying a competitor as a Jew for the purpose of demonizing him/her was used very actively. The object of this demonization was the candidate of the ruling party, Dmitry Medvedev, who eventually won the elections. In January-February 2008, the topic of the “Jewish origin” of this presidential candidate was actively discussed in the Internet (it even became part of spam). The maximum number of “compromising material” was “thrown” in the last week of February, to influence the mood of voters before the elections. On 22 February, an appeal of the Union of Russian People was circulated. It spoke of “non-Russian Jewish origin” of three candidates – A. Bogdanov, Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Dmitry Medvedev, and that “the only Russian [candidate] – Zyuganov – became the zombie of Jewish Marxism”. The appeal of the monks of the Karul Monastery distributed to the end of February said “Medvedev picked by the synagogue and was officially announced [its candidate] at the end of Hanukkah”. A number of anti-Semitic clichés was repeatedly declared, including accusations against the Jews of their alleged desire to build a “new Khazaria”, preparations of the coming of the Antichrist, etc. In late February, the “Duel” newspaper published an article alleging that Medvedev was a Jew and a “puppet of the oligarchs, Berl Lazar, Israel, and the United States.” Well-known St. Petersburg nationalist and political strategist N. Bondarik even tried to hold an “anti-Medvedev” “Russian March” on February 23. One of the topics of the march was the alleged non-Russian origin of the presidential candidate. However, the majority of nationalist organizations of the city did not support this initiative. As a result, almost no one came to the “march”, and the police arrested its organizers. Bondarik also stated that after Medvedev came into power, foreigners and Jews would plunder Russia’s natural resources, while “tens of thousands” of Israelis would be given key positions in such bodies as the police, army, and the intelligence, and “Russia would sever relations with the Arab world.” The “Lukashenko-2008” movement also announced an action “Russians against Medvedev!”. On February 11, they announced that Medvedev’s goal was to make a “decisive blow against the Russian national state” and that if he is elected president massive displacement of the Russian elite strata of society would begin, and they would be replaced with the Jews; they also predicted abolishment of the visa regime with Israel. The document also repeated myths about the Jews stealing the riches of Russia as a result of privatization, about Jewish dominance in arts, etc.
The question of who initiated this kind of propaganda against Medvedev remains open. It could be representatives of radical nationalists or members of the elite groups who competed with Medvedev and sought to dampen the celebration of his victory in the elections, reducing the maximum number of votes cast for him. Given the fact that some of such materials called people to vote for Russian M. Kasyanov (former Prime Minister of Russia, who crossed to the opposition and was not allowed to run in the elections), such spreading of rumors could partly be to discredit the democratic opposition.
Russia’s Jewish community was seriously concerned with these rumors, since, according to its representatives, the possible Jewish background of Medvedev “would bring only trouble for him and for us.”
2. Vice-Chairman of the Union of Russian People (L. Ivashov) and leader of the Russian Land organization, I. Pimenov, actively used anti-Semitic rhetoric during the elections to the regional Duma of the Ivanovo region. Leaflets distributed by this candidate quoted that national minorities “get fat at the Russians’ expense and run the whole of Ivanovo region”. They are also (in particular – the Jews) to blame for all the difficulties in the lives of people in this region. The leaflets also contained the promise to “make the traitors of the Russian people and those who govern them answer for all their atrocities.” In response to the appeal of the Jewish community of Ivanovo to remove Pimenov from the list of candidates, the territorial electoral commission said that the appeal was made too late. The regional prosecutor’s office promised to see whether a criminal case could be launched on the charges of enticing ethnic strife in the Pimenov’s leaflets.
3. Speaking in the “ Russian Hour. Outcome” program of the SPAS TV channel on January 27, 2008, Special Representative of Russia to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said that the Jewish Diaspora “is rooted in business, executive powers and in the United States and most of the European countries.” Leader of the Movement against Illegal Immigration Alexander Potkin spoke in an interview to the “Russian Reporter” journal in March about an allegedly high level of Jewish influence on the civilized society and the alleged Jewish dominance in the show business. He also accused Russia's Jews that they specifically demonized the “Pamyat” (Memory) organization in order to go to Israel as refugees.
At the end of March 2008, a report was published on the “ Russian Phobia in Russia. 2006-2007” compiled by one Russian Analytical Center headed by former State Duma mp Alexander Saveliev. As a manifestation of Russophobia, he quoted criminal charges against a number of activists of nationalist organizations and an attempt at clearing book fairs in Moscow of anti-Semitic literature. The same report contained a passage that “some media exist at the mercy of persons seeking their own narrow ethnic interests, being intolerable to any manifestation of Russian interests in public life” (meaning the notorious “Jewish domination”).
The “ Arguments of the Week” newspaper published an article on January 9, containing accusations against Gurevich, Head of the Federation of the Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR) Division for Relations with the Armed Forces and the Law-Enforcement. Gurevich is labeled as “an Israeli citizen” and accused of deliberately overstating the number of Jews serving in the army (the author of the material meant to say that that there are very few Jews in the military).
On January 24, Murmansk newspaper “ Polar Truth" printed a test called “Are you a Civilized Person?”. One of the test questions read, "Were there any Jews in your family?" If the reader responded to the question in the affirmative, the phrase followed, “Do not worry. You are a complete nonentity. But you are loved.” However, after an indignant letter to the editor from the Jewish community, the editorial staff promised to apologize, saying that anti-Semitic passage was found in the newspaper due by an “oversight”.
The Moscow rally “in defense of Russian political prisoners” on January 27, 2008, Boris Mironov spoke of the alleged existence in Russia of the “Jewish Mafia” and its persecution of all those who are trying to talk about it.
On February 12, editor-in-chief of the “Duel” newspaper, Y. Mukhin, who regularly publishes anti-Semitic materials, sent a letter to the Prosecutor General of Russia, Yuri Chaika. In his letter, he demanded that a criminal case be started according to Articles 280 and 282 against the director of the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights, A. Brod, who allegedly engaged in “incitement of ethnic hatred” by seeking to “make Russia’s Jews hate to the rest of the peoples of Russia and thus make them move to Israel and prevent their return from Israel to Russia.”
On June 29, anti-Semitic publicist M. Nazarov published an article stating that “the ideal of Talmudic Judaism” is serving the designs of Satan and seeking to achieve world domination. Nazarov said that the protest against the teaching of the “Fundamentals of the Orthodox Christian Culture” in schools shows “the striving that students know not what “god” Talmudist god-killers worship and the fact that their new “father” seduced their Nazi pride to consider them alone human, while all the “goyim” are to be treated like cattle”. In an interview with M. Nazarov published on his website, he declared that “the Jewish people have signs of zombies because they were zombied by Satan himself in the early period in their history, when Satan managed to convince the Jews that they were chosen to rule the world. And the whole subsequent history of the Jewish people is their faith in this election and actions according to this faith”.