Xenophobia, Freedom of Conscience and Anti-Extremism in Russia in 2016
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SoVA CENTER FoR INFoRMATIoN AND ANALYSIS Xenophobia, Freedom of Conscience and Anti-Extremism in Russia in 2016 A collection of annual reports by the SoVA Center for Information and Analysis Moscow 2017 UDC 323.1(470+571)(082.1)«2016» BBC 66.094я43+66.3(2Рос),54я43 Table of Contents X86 X86 Xenophobia, Freedom of Conscience and Anti-Extremism in Russia in 2016: A collection of annual reports by the S oVA Center for Information and Vera Alperovich, Natalia Yudina Analysis; [Alperovich Vera, Sibireva Olga, Kravchenko Maria, Yudina Natalia / Ed. by Verkhovsky Alexander] – М.: SOVA Center, 2017. – 141 pp.: tables Old Problems and New Alliances: Xenophobia and Radical Nationalism ISBN 978-5-98418-041-2 in Russia, and Efforts to Counteract Them in 2016 ...................................... 7 This collection of reports summarizes all the major areas of work addressed by the SOVA Summary ............................................................................................ 7 Center for Information and Analysis in 2014, in a similar fashion to collections in previous years. Criminal Manifestations of Racism and Xenophobia .......................... 10 There are three reports on themes which have become traditional for the SOVA Center in this collection: The first report addresses radical nationalism and hate crime, Systematic Racist and Neo-Nazi Violence .................................. 10 and the efforts of government and society to combat these phenomena. The second report addresses problems relating to freedom of conscience in contemporary Russia. The third Attacks against “Ethnic Outsiders” ...................................... 11 report addresses the misuse and abuse of “anti-extremism” measures. The reports are updated versions of original texts on the SOVA Center website. Attacks on Ideological Opponents ........................................ 12 The appendix provides details about hate crimes and the prosecution of “extremist Attacks against LGBT and Homeless People ........................ 13 crimes”. All data were compiled at March 12, 2017. Violence Motivated by Religion ............................................ 15 This collection was compiled and published with the support Vandalism .................................................................................. 15 of the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Public Activity of Right-Wing Radicals .............................................. 16 Pressure against the Ultra-Right Movement ......................... 16 We are also grateful for support from the European Union represented by European Commis- sion (project EIDHR/2014/348-053) and for the state support grants distributed by Civil Dignity New Organisational Developments ...................................... 19 Movement per Decree no. 79-rp of the President of the Russian Federation, issued on 1 April Public Rallies of the Ultra-Right .......................................... 27 2015. SOVA Center expresses its gratitude to all the donors and points out that responsibility for the “Anti-repression” activities ............................................... 30 content of the reports lies with their authors. Mainstream Nationalist Activities ..................................... 31 On December 30, 2016, the Ministry of Justice forcibly included SOVA Center on the list of “non-profit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent”. We disagree with this Elections .................................................................................... 36 decision and have filed an appeal against it. Raids and Training Sessions ........................................................ 41 The SOVA Center website, which includes publications and news, can be found at http://sova-center.ru Counteraction to Xenophobia and Radical Nationalism ..................... 41 Criminal Prosecution ................................................................. 41 Design, cover design – N. Vinnik Layout – М. Konkova For violence ......................................................................... 41 Подписано в печать 18 мая 2017 г. Формат 60х841/ Гарнитура Таймс 16 For Vandalism ...................................................................... 44 Уч.-изд. л. 9,4. Публикация онлайн. РОО Центр «Сова». Адрес для писем: 103982, Москва, Лучников пер., д.4, под.3, к.2. For Public Statements .......................................................... 44 Телефон/факс:(495) 517-92-30. E-mail: [email protected]. Веб-сайт: http://sova-center.ru Prosecution of Extremist Groups and Banned Organizations..... 53 The Federal List of Extremist Materials ...................................... 55 © Authors, 2017– report texts Banning Organizations as Extremist ........................................... 58 © Vinnik N.V., 2017– design 9 785984 180412 Other Administrative Measures .................................................. 60 Prosecutions for administrative offences ............................... 60 The “Ukrainian Question” ..................................................102 Prosecutorial Activity on the Internet ................................... 62 Other “Separatism” ............................................................108 Incitement to Hatred toward Public Officials .......................109 Olga Sibireva Fight against “Justification of Terrorism” ...........................111 Religious Groups ...................................................................... 111 Freedom of Conscience in Russia: Restrictions and Challenges in 2016........... 65 Hizb ut-Tahrir ....................................................................111 Summary .......................................................................................... 65 Tablighi Jamaat ...................................................................113 Legislation ........................................................................................ 66 Followers of Said Nursi .......................................................114 Initiatives not (yet) successfully progressed ................................. 68 Other Muslims ....................................................................115 Problems relating to places of worship ................................................ 69 Jehovah’s Witnesses .............................................................117 Problems with the construction of religious buildings .................. 69 Yehowist-Ilyinites ..............................................................119 Problems with existing religious buildings .................................. 72 Downsides of the Fight for Tolerance......................................... 119 Positive resolutions .................................................................... 74 Fight against Those Insulting the Feelings Defending believers’ feelings .............................................................. 74 of Religious Believers ..........................................................119 Top-down defence ..................................................................... 74 Misusing the Criminalization of Incitement to Hatred ........123 Defence from below .................................................................. 76 Prosecutions for Extremist Symbols ....................................126 Preferential treatment accorded certain Incidental Victims of Inappropriate Anti-Extremism ................. 127 religious organizations by the authorities ........................................... 80 The Internet and Anti-Extremism ............................................. 128 Discrimination against religious organizations General Blocking Practices ................................................128 and citizens on the basis of their attitude to religion ........................... 85 Selected Examples of Access Restrictions ............................129 Liquidation of religious organizations Other Sanctions ..................................................................132 and denial of registration ........................................................... 85 Mass Media and Anti-Extremism .............................................. 132 Restriction of missionary activity ............................................... 86 A Bit of Statistics ..................................................................................... 134 Other forms of discrimination .................................................... 87 Insufficient protection against defamation and attacks ....................... 92 Appendix. Crime and punishment statistics .............................................. 138 Statistics of Racist and Neo-Nazi Attacks in Russia Maria Kravchenko (with categorization of victims) .................................................138 Guilty Verdicts for “Crimes of an Extremist Nature” .................140 Inappropriate Enforcement of Anti-Extremist Legislation in Russia in 2016 ....................................................................................... 96 Summary ...........................................................................................96 Creation of Regulatory Acts ................................................................97 Principal Targets of Persecution ....................................................... 102 Ideological Opponents of the Authorities ................................... 102 Vera Alperovich, Natalia Yudina Old Problems and New Alliances: Xenophobia and Radical Nationalism in Russia, and Efforts