Inter-ethnic relations discussed in Odessa

PanARMENIAN.Net - Considering Odessa as an "island for ideal interethnic relations" is a myth. That was one of the statements made at a press conference at the Odessa branch of the Institute of Management issues of Gorshenin. A recently conducted survey "Interethnic Relations in the eyes of Odessa's inhabitants" was presented at the conference. 600 18-year-old citizens were interviewed for the survey.



Most respondents (59.5 per cent) claim that they equally treat all nationalities. However, over a third (37 per cent) of respondents admitted that representatives of certain nations cause their hostility and anger.



According to authors of the study, Odessa residents are more tolerant than those of Dnepropetrovsk: only 27.8 per cent of interviewed told that representatives of other nations do not cause their hostility.



Odessa law enforcers fuel inter-ethnic strife, labeling criminals in public reports as "persons of Caucasian nationality", Andrei Yusov, head of family and youth in Odessa City Council said.



According to the expert of the IAC Analitika.at.ua David Davtyan, dissemination of such information is amoral and does not meet democratic standards.



According to Andrey Yusov, law enforcers, calling the nationality of the perpetrator, contribute to the development of inter-ethnic animosity. Crime has no nationality and it must be fought, not separated by nationality, the official said.



Andrei Yusov described as firebrands the representatives of "Russian chauvinism": "Dozor" (Watch), "Slavyanskoe edinstvo"(Slavic unity) and "Bratstvo" (Brotherhood) organizations. "These organizations are harsh, marginal and poor," Andrey Yusov said, Analitika.at.ua writes.