15:06, 15 August 2005

'Caucasus-phobia' in Russia

Adherents to xenophobic slogans numbered between 50% and 60% in the first half of 2005 in Russia, according to various social surveys. The disliked ethnicities and peoples are largely natives of the Caucasus: Chechens (14.8%), Azeris (5.1%), Armenians (4.1%), and Caucasians in general (6.0%). Only Roma (5.1%) and Jews (2.5%) dilute this list.

Such figures are quoted in a report of the Moscow Bureau of Human Rights titled Racism, Xenophobia, Ethnic Discrimination, and Anti-Semitism in Russia (January-June 2005). A major part of it is devoted to "Caucasus-phobia" and discrimination against natives of the Caucasus in Russia.

Author: Vyacheslav Feraposhkin, CK correspondent