The true extent of racist and facist terror in today’s Russia has only slowly emerged into the daylight. The SOVA Center, a respected Russian human rights organisation, documented at least 47 cases of murder and 461 attacks based on racist/nationalist motivation in 2005. These numbers increased in 2006 to 54 murders and 541 attacks. In 2007, 72 people were killed for racist or nationalist motives and, in the first three months of 2008 alone, murder had
claimed the lives of 33 victims. These figures only include cases that have been made public. The real numbers are probably higher. The killings in Russia are not just an an expression of widespread racism but also of a continuing radicalisation of right-wing extremist structures at a time when the leaders of the Russian state – itself is moving further and further away from parliamentary democracy – react with mere lip service to the violence around them. This is hardly a surprise: Vladimir Putin and his ruling United Russia party have themselves been using the rhetoric of “national rebirth” for years. There are no big independent trade unions, left-wing parties, workers’ movements or traditional democratic, anti-racist or anti-fascist structures in Russia. However, a number of loosely organised democratic associations have started to be active and there are positive signs of resistance to right-wing extremism in the courts and on the streets. These struggles are necessary. The alternative? Capitulation to racist and nationalist terror. However, engaging in struggle is expensive. That is why the international anti-fascist network AntifaNet has called for solidarity action with Russian anti-fascists. This sampler CD is part of that international solidarity. All proceeds from its sale will go to the Russian Human Rights Solidarity Campaign. If you wish to donate money, you can send your donations to one of the following accounts:
Russian Human Rights Solidarity Campaign
Branch Sort Code: 40-03-36
Account Number: 41284479
IBAN : GB76MIDL40033 | 641284479
SWIFT CODE : MIDLGB22
In addition to telling you about fundraising, we want to inform you about the situation in Russia and ask you to support solidarity activities. If you are interested in further information or want to give your support support, please contact the projects involved in this sampler.
