Racist violence has grown to alarming levels in Russia and Ukraine, according to a new report.
Representatives from the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, a Jewish advocacy group in the former Soviet Union, on Tuesday briefed the U.S. Congress’ Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe about its findings.
The group said the Russian government is catering increasingly to nationalist voters as part of an election strategy. Neo-fascists received permission to march in an officially sanctioned rally in Moscow this weekend, despite recent violent disbursements of nonviolent rallies by opposition groups and gay rights activists.
In Ukraine, neo-Nazi groups have become highly organized over the past four years, and there were four recorded attacks on Jews in Ukrainian cities in the last four days of September this year alone. Only one of those cases has been solved.
The Union of Councils recently formed a Coalition Against Hate with 30 human rights groups in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, and is assembling an international leadership committee.
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