May 30, 2006 - 15:31 AMT
Xenophobia Moods Increase in Russian Society
«Situation on growth of fascism and xenophobia in Russia is desolate, it is worsening and will keep worsening further,» stated leader of All-Russian Movement for Human Rights Lev Ponomaryov. In his words, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not raised the issue of struggle against xenophobia, racism and fascism before officials. «Xenophobia moods in Russian society just increase,» Ponomaryov said.

In his words the power hierarchy is built in a way that the state leader has assumed responsibility for everything substantial in the country and functionaries solve only those issues that he commissions them to.

«The President has not raise the issue of fighting xenophobia, racism and fascism before them. Authorities in every way escape from instituting proceedings on racial hatred, trying to conceal it, as if they were sympathetic with racists. As of the media, propagating racial hatred, restrictions should be applied to them and it is apt for Russia,» Ponomaryov underscored, writes the BBC Russian Service.