Racist hate in Russia
on May 13, 2008
Category: Racism, Immigration Europe
Just over two years ago a friend of mine Kayode Ogundamisi wrote a piece “Are you a Black man? Don’t go to Russia” in which is spoke of the racism experienced by African students in Russia…..
It is a shame that the Russian government is turning a blind eye on the growing level of attacks on foreign students and residents in Russia. Students of the international university in Moscow are the worst victims. I was shown video evidence of acid attacks and knife cuts. One African student, Nigerian Mukaila Odedina remains paralysed from an attack from right wing thugs in front of a Russian police station in Moscow, speaking with Mukaila brought tears to my eyes. He is in his final year and would have been a medical doctor in September 2005 now he cannot even raise a flight ticket back home; all contact with the Nigerian embassy yielded no result.
I remember meeting a Zimbabwean woman in 1990, who was to become a good friend, speaking about her similar experience whilst a student in the Soviet Union. “From Russia With Hate” is a video documentary by Christof Putzel which investigates neo-nazi groups in Russia. It’s bad enough that that racist violence is described as “out of control” but many of the skin heads have support from the government….One member of the Duma is interviewed condoning the violence because the “government is not doing enough [about immigration]” A very disturbing documentary particularly when looked at in the context of the British government’s increasingly anti-immigration rhetoric and accompanying legislation - one suggestion from Russia is to take away the citizenship of Russian women who marry foreigners!
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15 Comments so far
1. Russia » The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom
May 13th, 2008 at 4:23 am
[…] Racist hate in RussiaDon’t go to Russia” in which is spoke of the racism experienced by African students in Russia….. It is a shame that the Russian government is turning a blind eye on the growing level of attacks on […] […]
2. Russia » Day 2: Romania, Russia and Greece
May 13th, 2008 at 4:32 am
[…] Racist hate in RussiaDon’t go to Russia” in which is spoke of the racism experienced by African students in Russia….. It is a shame that the Russian government is turning a blind eye on the growing level of attacks on […] […]
3. deviousdiva
May 13th, 2008 at 8:35 am
The video is so shocking and abhorrent that I don’t even know how to respond. I am utterly speechless.
deviousdivas last blog post..Slow Blogging
4. Beauty
May 13th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Having watched this shocking but excellent effort, may I add that the British government’s increasingly anti-immigration rhetoric and accompanying legislation is not reflected here. Also the rule of law has not broken down in the UK and as such would rather stay in the UK. 70,000 skin heads in Russia is a bridge too far. My advice to Africans is to stay out of Russia.
Beautys last blog post..$200 barrel Oil
5. Mwangi - the Displaced African
May 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
This is the last place I ever would have imagined hatred against Africans, but the stories I have heard coming out of Russia have been beyond appalling.
What I find amazing is that just like in other Western nations, rather than trying to correct the system to be more egalitarian for all, people are being reactionary and instead trying to put a band-aid on a fracture by attacking and trying to eliminate the very cheap labor that may be the underpinning of the current system functioning. Ironic!
6. Sokari
May 13th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Beauty @ I would rather be in the UK than any other part of Europe (or rather London as it is very different here than in the rest of the country). My comment refers to the increasing anti-immigration discourse taking place in UK and Europe as a whole. It is moving more and more to the right and what was not acceptable (language, attitude, legislation) 5 years ago is now acceptable in this country. The BNP is stronger now than at any other time in the last 25 years - that should be a warning!
7. acolyte
May 13th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I have heard of the tales of Russia for a long time and this all but confirms what I already knew.
Generally xenophobia is at an all time high world wide. Wasn’t it in S Africa where some foreign people were lynched the other day? Sadly the message many countries are trying to pass on is that you should stay at home or else!
acolytes last blog post..Another Monday…..
8. Sokari
May 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Beauty @ This report from yesterday’s Independent on the far right in the UK supports my statement on the acceptance of right wing anti-immigration sentiments and the increasing acceptance of the BNP
http://tinyurl.com/62eden.
The article condones the BNP position by stating that opposition to immigration is “free of ‘racial’ bigotry”. What is disturbing is the mainstreaming of the BNP position which is justified by stating that if the government does not follow their agenda then the country risks more BNP victories.
A further justification for anti-immigration is the placing descendants of immigrants as well as new immigrants at the forefront of the anti-discrimination sentiment in the UK.
In short well if the new immigrants feel immigration has gone too far then it’s ok for us to feel the same - is it so impossible for anyone to see through these kind of statements?
9. Rethabile
May 14th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Wow. Wow. What does one say to that?
Rethabiles last blog post..No such thing as a Lesothan
10. Racist hate in Russia « Sotho
May 14th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
[…] Racist hate in Russia May 14, 2008 Posted by Rethabile in General, racism. trackback Just over two years ago a friend of mine Kayode Ogundamisi wrote a piece “Are you a Black man? Don’t go to Russia” in which is spoke of the racism experienced by African students in Russia… [continue…] […]
11. Beauty
May 17th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Chewing gun against racism during Madrid’s Patron Saint Day (San Isidro). I took this photo today. Here is a EU city saying that there is no place for racism in their city.
Beautys last blog post..Dimeji Bankole - HARDtalk interview
12. Beauty
May 17th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
here is the link http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll191/YuwieBeauty/madridagainstracism.jpg
Beautys last blog post..Dimeji Bankole - HARDtalk interview
13. prof bw
May 17th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. Russia used to be haven for the black (primarily african-american but also african and afro-caribbean) intellectuals in the early 1/2 of the 1900s. Like France is became a key hub of post-colonial ideas that impacted the world. It is REALLY depressing to see the total reversal here. I will link to this article when I get back from blog break.
PS. There is a video on the AIDs/HIV pandemic that I posted about last year that also touches on these issues in Russia. The report said ideas like HIV is an “n- disease” or “comes from those monkeys (animals/people) in Africa” were the biggest hindrance to checking the spread of HIV and AIDs in Russia. Watching this video and reading your post info gave me new context with which to view that story.
14. Black Looks
May 19th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
[…] these very disturbing videos here and here and here, fit well with the one posted from last week on Race Hate in Russia. More importantly the videos tell us how governments with the support of the media can and have […]
15. Solidarity: Xenophobia deflects government failures « Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign
May 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
[…] these very disturbing videos here and here and here, fit well with the one posted from last week on Race Hate in Russia. More importantly the videos tell us how governments with the support of the media can and have […]