http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/10.19/15-russia
“Ethnic Violence in Russia Rises” by Corydon Ireland. Harvard News Office 19 October 2006.
Corydon Ireland reports on a visit by Nickolai Butkevich to the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. Butkevich is the advocacy director of the Union of Coucil for Jews in the Former Soviet Union. He spoke to professors and graduate students on the issue of racial and ethnic hate crimes in Russia. The article reports on Butkevich’s presentation and the reaction of the audience. Butkevich argued that poor ethnic Russians are frustrated with the rise of immigrants and are taking out their anger on minorities. Ireland also reports that the audience questioned the validity of Butkevich’s statistics.
Monday, April 30, 2007
The Circassian Genocide
The genocide committed against the Circassian nation in the 1800s is seldom spoken of. History seems to have forgotten about this awful chapter in Russian history, as the Jewish Genocide during World War II is much better known. The Circassians were a semi-nomadic culture separated into tribes. The small nation had been at war with Russia for 40 years when their courts appealed the higher powers for independence. The Russian nation felt embarrassed about this action as they regarded the Circassians as their slaves. The ensuing genocide was the worst in modern history until the Armenian genocide in the early 1900s.
News Summary
http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGEUR460182006
“Russian Federation: Racism and Xenophobia Rife in Russian Society” by Amnesty International News, 5/04/2006
Amnesty International reports that the Russian government is not adequately protecting its citizens from racism and xenophobia. The author argues that Russia is not doing what is expected of a member of the G-8 and Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in addressing this issue. Many racially-motivated attacks go unreported as the police rarely enforce the laws. Ethnic groups including Chechens, Roma, Jews, and refugees are often the subject of discrimination. Amnesty International wants Russia to insure that all of her residents are free from discrimination.
“Russian Federation: Racism and Xenophobia Rife in Russian Society” by Amnesty International News, 5/04/2006
Amnesty International reports that the Russian government is not adequately protecting its citizens from racism and xenophobia. The author argues that Russia is not doing what is expected of a member of the G-8 and Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in addressing this issue. Many racially-motivated attacks go unreported as the police rarely enforce the laws. Ethnic groups including Chechens, Roma, Jews, and refugees are often the subject of discrimination. Amnesty International wants Russia to insure that all of her residents are free from discrimination.
Monday, April 2, 2007
News Summary
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/12/06/putinresponse.shtml
“Putin Names Fighting Ethnic Hatred Top Priority for Russia” by MosNews, 6-12-2006
Russian news source MosNews reports that President Putin met with political leaders in 2006 to address the issue of ethnic hate crimes. The article says that human rights groups are concerned with “the alarming spread of racist and xenophobic attitudes in the country.” Also, there has been an increase in violence against people with non-Slavic appearances. Putin said that the state should address extremism and punish those who commit hate crimes. The President aims to change the people’s attitudes about ethnic hatred.
“Putin Names Fighting Ethnic Hatred Top Priority for Russia” by MosNews, 6-12-2006
Russian news source MosNews reports that President Putin met with political leaders in 2006 to address the issue of ethnic hate crimes. The article says that human rights groups are concerned with “the alarming spread of racist and xenophobic attitudes in the country.” Also, there has been an increase in violence against people with non-Slavic appearances. Putin said that the state should address extremism and punish those who commit hate crimes. The President aims to change the people’s attitudes about ethnic hatred.
Reading List Selection
52nd Anniversary of the Chechen Genocide- http://www.amina.com/article/aniver_gen.html
The world knows little about the events of the 1944 genocide of the Chechen people. This article is a detailed second-hand account of the deportation and eventual slaughter of the Chechen people by the Russians in 1944. One year prior, during World War II, the Chechen people had staged an uprising, prompting the Russian government to end the problem once and for all by gathering and deporting the entire population of Chechnya. In February of that year all the people were instructed that they would be celebrating Red Army Day in the centers of their respective towns. Upon arriving, in the various squares they were read a decree handed down from the Russian government which stated the plans for the widespread deportation. From there thousands of Chechens were inhumanely crammed into train cars and shipped to designated deportation areas where the majority of them were slaughtered.
The world knows little about the events of the 1944 genocide of the Chechen people. This article is a detailed second-hand account of the deportation and eventual slaughter of the Chechen people by the Russians in 1944. One year prior, during World War II, the Chechen people had staged an uprising, prompting the Russian government to end the problem once and for all by gathering and deporting the entire population of Chechnya. In February of that year all the people were instructed that they would be celebrating Red Army Day in the centers of their respective towns. Upon arriving, in the various squares they were read a decree handed down from the Russian government which stated the plans for the widespread deportation. From there thousands of Chechens were inhumanely crammed into train cars and shipped to designated deportation areas where the majority of them were slaughtered.
News Summary
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/685224.stm
“Last stand for Russian Communists?” by Malcolm Haslett. www.bbc.com 21 march 2000.
Malcolm Haslett argues that the 2000 Russian presidential election is the last chance of Gennady Zyuganov, the Communist Party candidate, to bring his party to power. Zyugavov tried to impeach President Boris Yeltsin throughout his term. Zyuganov claims that Yeltsin has enacted genocide against the Russian people through his policies. He claims that Yeltsin caused a rise in crime, deteriorated health care for the poor, and lowered living standards for all Russians. Despite these extreme claims against President Yeltsin, Zyuganov and his party have not gained any ground against Putin and Yeltsin in the election.
“Last stand for Russian Communists?” by Malcolm Haslett. www.bbc.com 21 march 2000.
Malcolm Haslett argues that the 2000 Russian presidential election is the last chance of Gennady Zyuganov, the Communist Party candidate, to bring his party to power. Zyugavov tried to impeach President Boris Yeltsin throughout his term. Zyuganov claims that Yeltsin has enacted genocide against the Russian people through his policies. He claims that Yeltsin caused a rise in crime, deteriorated health care for the poor, and lowered living standards for all Russians. Despite these extreme claims against President Yeltsin, Zyuganov and his party have not gained any ground against Putin and Yeltsin in the election.
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