HRW criticizes authorities’ leniency towards participants in anti-Semitic protests in Caucasus

The authorities of Russia did not recognize the anti-Semitic nature of the riots at an airport in Makhachkala and the arson of the Jewish cultural centre under construction in Nalchik, noted the international organization “Human Rights Watch” (HRW).

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on October 29, mass riots occurred at the Makhachkala airport following the messages reporting about the arrival of a flight from Israel. More than 20 people were injured. By November 13, the courts of Dagestan had received 302 protocols drawn up by the police under the article on violation of the procedure for holding rallies in connection with the unrest.

The HRW treats as inadequate the response of the Russia’s authorities to anti-Semitic actions in the republics of Northern Caucasus, which were accompanied by violence, the “Kavkaz.Realii*” reported.

It is noted that the authorities of Russia treated the participants in the pogrom at the Makhachkala airport and other anti-Israeli actions differently than the participants in peaceful political protests. At the same time, the authorities are not trying to stop xenophobia, human rights defenders point out.

Anti-Semitic statements were voiced during at least two rallies of Caucasian supporters of Palestine. So, participants of an action in Karachay-Cherkessia declared on camera that they did not want to live “next door to Jews.” Ovadya Isakov, the chief rabbi of Derbent, noted that members of the local Jewish community were frightened by the surge in anti-Semitism and feared for their safety. The country’s authorities are to launch an investigation into the incitement of hatred, insist the human rights defenders.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.