SOVA CENTER FOR INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS Xenophobia, Freedom of Conscience and Anti-Extremism in Russia in 2018 A collection of annual reports by the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis Moscow 2019 UDC 323.1(470+571)(082.1)«2018» Table of Contents BBC 66.094я43+66.3(2Рос),54я43 X44 X44 Xenophobia, Freedom of Conscience and Anti-Extremism in Russia in 2018: A collection of annual reports by the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis; [Kravchenko Maria, Sibireva Olga, Yudina Natalia / Ed. by Verkhovsky Alexander] – М.: SOVA Center, 2019. – 131 pp.: tables and grahs. ISBN 978-5-98418-046-7 This collection of reports summarizes all the major areas of work addressed by the Natalia Yudina SOVA Center for Information and Analysis in 2018. Traditionally, we are presenting our annual reports on problems with realizing the right Far Right and Arithmetic: Hate Crime in Russia and Efforts to freedom of conscience and the principle of state secularism, and on misuse of measures to to Counteract It in 2018 .............................................................................. 6 counteract whatever falls under the definition of “extremism”. Summary ............................................................................................ 6 Starting from last year, instead of one large report, devoted to radical nationalism, hate crimes, and the efforts by the state and the society to counteract these phenomena, this collection Systematic Racist and Neo-Nazi Violence ........................................... 7 contains two reports: the first one covers the subject of hate crimes and counteraction to them, Attacks against Ethnic “Others” ................................................. 10 the second one discusses other aspects of anti-extremist policies (besides those described in the above-mentioned reports). Attacks against Ideological Opponents ........................................ 11 The reports are updated versions of original texts on the SOVA Center website. Other Attacks ............................................................................. 13 The appendix provides details about hate crimes and the prosecution of “extremist crimes”. All data were compiled at February 18, 2019. Racism among Soccer Fans ........................................................ 16 Crimes against Property ..................................................................... 17 This collection was compiled and published with the support of the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Work on the Criminal Prosecution for Violence ..................................................... 20 reports was also made possible by the financial support provided by European Union. Criminal Prosecution for Crimes against Property.............................. 24 SOVA Center expresses its gratitude to all the donors and points out that responsibility for the content of the reports lies with their authors. Natalia Yudina On the Threshold of Change? The State Against the Promotion On December 30, 2016, the Ministry of Justice forcibly included SOVA of Hate and the Political Activity of Nationalists in Russia in 2018 ............. 26 Center on the list of “non-profit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent”. Summary .......................................................................................... 26 We disagree with this decision and have filed an appeal against it. Criminal Prosecution ........................................................................ 27 For public statements ................................................................. 27 The SOVA Center website, which includes publications and news, can be found at http: //sova-center.ru For participation in extremist communities and banned organizations ........................................................... 39 Federal List of Extremist Materials .................................................... 40 Design, cover design – N. Vinnik Infohraphics – A Bogachev Organizations Banned for Being Extremist ......................................... 43 Layout – М. Konkova Other Administrative Measures .......................................................... 45 Подписано в печать 29 апреля 2019 г. Формат 60х841/16 Гарнитура Таймс Prosecution for administrative violations .................................... 45 Уч.-изд. л. 7,6. Тираж – 150 экз Blocking on the Internet ............................................................. 48 РОО Центр «Сова». Адрес для писем: 101000, Москва, Лучников пер., д.4, под.3, к.2. Телефон/факс: (495) 517-92-30. E-mail: [email protected]. Веб-сайт: http: //sova-center.ru Т8 “Издательские Технологии”. тел: +7 (499) 322 38 30, email: [email protected], Maria Kravchenko г.Москва, Волгоградский проспект, д. 42, корп.5, “Технополис Москва” Inappropriate Enforcement of Anti-Extremist Legislation www.t8print.ru, www.letmeprint.ru in Russia in 2018 ....................................................................................... 52 © Authors, 2019 – report texts Summary .......................................................................................... 52 © Vinnik N.V., 2019 – design Lawmaking ....................................................................................... 53 The Practice of the European Court Of Human Rights ...................... 63 Restriction of Missionary Activity ..............................................115 Principal Targets of Persecution ......................................................... 66 Liquidation of religious organizations Ideological Opponents of the Regime ......................................... 66 and denial of registration ...........................................................118 Prosecutions for Incitement to Extremist Activities .................. 66 Other forms of discrimination ...................................................118 Prosecutions for Calls for Separatism....................................... 67 Positive resolutions ....................................................................120 Prosecutions for Incitement to Hatred toward Public Officials Protecting the Feelings of Believers ...................................................122 and Other Anti-Government Statements ................................. 68 Top-down defense .....................................................................122 The “Ukrainian Question” ...................................................... 70 Defense from below ..................................................................124 Prosecution for “Rehabilitation of Nazism” ............................ 73 Insufficient Protection against Prosecution for Anti-Government Group Initiatives ................ 74 Defamation and Attacks ...................................................................125 Side Effects of the Fight for Tolerance ........................................ 75 Violence and Vandalism.............................................................125 Abusing Criminalization of Incitement to Hatred .................... 75 Defamatory Materials about Religious Minorities ......................126 Prosecutions for Extremist Symbols ......................................... 77 Fight against Insults to the Feelings of Religious Believers ........ 78 Appendix. Crime and punishment statistics Religious Groups ....................................................................... 81 Statistics of Racist and Neo-Nazi Attacks in Russia Hizb ut-Tahrir ......................................................................... 81 (with categorization of victims) .........................................................128 Tablighi Jamaat ....................................................................... 83 Guilty Verdicts for “Crimes of an Extremist Nature” .........................130 Followers of Said Nursi ........................................................... 84 Other Muslims ........................................................................ 86 Jehovah’s Witnesses ................................................................. 87 Sanctions against Libraries ......................................................... 90 The Internet and Anti-Extremism ...................................................... 91 Blocking Practices ...................................................................... 91 Other Sanctions ......................................................................... 92 Mass Media and Anti-Extremism ...................................................... 93 A Bit of Statistics ............................................................................... 95 Olga Sibireva Freedom of Conscience in Russia: Restrictions and Challenges in 2018 .........................................................101 Summary .........................................................................................101 Legislation .......................................................................................103 Problems with Places of Worship .......................................................106 Problems with the construction of religious sites ........................106 Problems with using the existing religious buildings ....................108 Positive resolutions ....................................................................111 Conflicts around the transfer of property to religious organizations ...........................................................112 Discrimination on the Basis of Attitude toward Religion ...................114