Hello!

I'm Maxim Polyakov, a correspondent for the online magazine ‘7x7’.

Following the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, which resulted in 144 deaths, Russian regions are experiencing a surge of far-right sentiments. Since the suspects are natives of Tajikistan, the entire Tajik diaspora in Russia has faced xenophobia. For instance, residents of Oryol Oblast urged the regional governor to deport all migrants; however, he refused to do so. In this newsletter, I will outline the main stages of immigrants' persecution in Russia, explain why xenophobia has become acceptable, and discuss its potential consequences.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Rise of Xenophobia

After the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, there was a series of assaults on migrants from Central Asia, a pattern often seen in such cases. Here are a few examples:

• In the Moscow region, a man attacked visitors at a gaming club, shouting “Death to non-Russians!” Three people were injured, and the attacker was detained.
• In Kaluga, unidentified individuals assaulted three Tajiks, one of whom was hospitalized. Further details about the incident are still unknown.
• The nationalist calls to 'kick everyone out' target not only foreigners but also Russians of non-Slavic ethnic backgrounds. Social media users, commenting on the terrorist attack, often mention 'Moskvabad,' 'outsiders,' and 'savages,' aiming at citizens of Central Asia and Russia's North Caucasian republics.

• On March 24, 2024, Russian nationalists surrounded a young woman from Yakutia in the Moscow metro, chanting “Russia is for Russians!” The incident was captured on video and later circulated on Telegram channels. Metro police contacted the victim, but it remains unclear whether her attackers were punished.

Tatyana Kotlyar, a human rights activist from Kaluga, closely monitors all such cases (six months ago, we published her monologue, dedicated to the impact of war on human rights protection, in Russian). Tatyana believes that the state itself has long shaped nationalist sentiment in society, with propaganda being one of its tools. However, before the attack on Crocus City Hall, xenophobia was confined to everyday conflicts. Now, the situation is very different.

"Right now, this sentiment is fueled by a rather natural fear. You go to a concert, and there's a shooting and a fire, visitors die. When people learn about it, their natural reaction is, 'Someone should be responsible for this.' 'If the suspects are Tajiks, then perhaps all Tajiks are like that, and they should be feared.' Many are genuinely frightened," explains Kotlyar.

Hatred Towards Tajiks: the Story of Sasha Pechenka

Tajik natives are hesitant to speak with independent Russian journalists after the terrorist attack, fearing that the situation might deteriorate. '7x7' reached out to 20 Tajiks in Russian regions, but none agreed to give interviews and discuss the issues they are facing.

Activist and journalist Sasha Sogdi encountered a similar response when he asked his relatives and acquaintances to comment on the situation in Russia anonymously. Sasha Sogdi, also known as Sasha Pechenka, is of Tajik descent. He spent 15 years in Russia before moving to Poland in 2021 due to the threat of political persecution.

Sasha Sogdi faced discrimination during his school and university years, where he was mocked for his eye shape, skin color, and native country. Although he primarily lived in Moscow, he also spent two years studying in North Caucasian republics, where he encountered similar challenges despite these regions being multinational without a predominant Russian population.

Sasha recalls a case of a real threat to health and life due to nationality, dating back to 2009 when the leader of Russian nationalists, Tesak, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for a racist video. This led to a surge of far-right sentiments, and Sasha's brother, Nadir, was attacked in the metro.

“Nadir did not file a complaint with the police. Tajiks have always been and still are distrustful towards such society and state institutions as the police," explained Sogdi to '7x7.

Sasha remembers that Tajikistan citizenship often posed an obstacle when he tried to rent an apartment. Even when he managed to meet landlords in person, they could back out at the last moment simply because of his 'wrong' passport.

"The labor market in Russia faces similar issues. Well-educated individuals from Central Asia are not hired as skilled workers because of their origins. They are forced to learn another specialty because it is often difficult for them to return to their native countries. Minimum wages that they can earn in Russia are still significant for them. They would love to work in accordance with their diploma, but they cannot. They are not employed, and they have to work as taxi drivers or delivery workers," says Sogdi.

Xenophobia and War

According to Sasha Pechenka, the rhetoric of Russian authorities changed drastically after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Even Vladimir Putin himself started promoting the idea of a multinational and close-knit society. At the meeting of the Security Council, he declared himself to be Russian, Lak, Tatar, Jewish, and many other nationalities.

"To us, Putin's words sounded as ‘Well, we are going to oppress you for years, and then, when it’s necessary, we will start saying pretty words about the homeland and the necessity to pay your debt to it’," says Sasha.

"There have always been a lot of Tajiks in the Russian armed forces. One important point to note is that, despite international sanctions, the Russian passport remains highly regarded. People apply for it to have a better life, a better position in society. But sometimes, to obtain this passport, they resort to such an unattractive method as going to war.

At the same time, Russia has implemented new regulations for drivers, effective from April 1. All foreigners must obtain a Russian driving license. In Ekaterinburg, immigrants queued to apply for their new licenses, but were handed military summons instead. Under the new law, individuals are required to be registered with the military office before they can obtain a driver's license.

About a year ago, Russian law enforcers began conducting raids on foreigners who had recently acquired Russian citizenship. They receive summons and are urged to enlist in the military. Some immigrants anonymously informed journalists that they are unhappy about obtaining Russian passports.

Human rights defender Valentina Chupik believes that the widespread persecution of foreigners has been enabled by the assurance of impunity. While immigrant xenophobia was once disapproved, it is now being promoted.

Following the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, over 8,500 immigrants have reached out to human rights defenders. This is nearly 50 times more than usual.

© Copyright, online journal "7х7"