Russia: Update to Response to Information Request 30449.E of 13 November 1998 on the treatment of non-Muslims by Muslims in the Kabardino-Balkaria and Daghestan Republics, and the state protection available to them (January 1997 - November 1998)

An 18 November 1998 letter sent to the Research Directorate by the programme manager of the Memorial Human Rights Centre in Moscow states:

Unfortunately at the moment we do not conduct any field research in Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and Dagestan. I have some experience of investigating one case of ethnic violence in KBR in 1994, but it must not be useful now....

1. a) and b)  Non-Muslims, mostly Christians (Russians, Ukrainians, Germans, Koreans, Armenians etc.) and Jews are outnumbered by Muslims in KBR and RD. We haven't heard anything definite about the cases of direct discrimination against persons of non-Muslim origin conducted or encouraged by the authorities or officials. We also don't have any reliable information on the cases of random unorganised (individual) discrimination, harassment, violence or threats of violence against non-Muslims. Governments of the both republics do much to prevent any possibility of communal violence and ethnic harassment. By the way, all the significant tensions or potential conflict situations are developing between Muslim groups (Kabardinians vs. Balkarians in KBR, some cases of threats of violence against Meskhetian Turks in KBR, Avars, Dargins and other migrants from highlands vs. Kumyks, Nogais and other inhabitants of the plains in Dagestan etc.) rather than Muslims and non-Muslims. The government of KBR, which has a stable authoritarian regime, are more successful in this respect than in RD, where the authorities doesn't effectively control the entire territory and permanently face the threats of terrorism, activities of ethnically-based paramilitary groups etc. Russian language is still almost in the same position in the local cultural institutions, administration and school as 10 years ago. That does not mean that non-Muslims do not encounter any problems in this area. Authorities of the both republics conduct campaign against so called 'sects' (non-traditional confessions), there were several cases of persecution and aggression against members of such religious groups in RD.

A significant part of non-Muslims (mostly Russians) are socially disadvantaged population, this people were mostly workers and engineers at the local industrial enterprises, which are now deeply affected by the economic crisis. Unemployment is one of major factors which make people emigrate from KBR and RD to the other regions of Russia. Persons who do not belong to so called 'native' or 'titular' ethnic groups have respectively low chances in making successful professional career, i.e. occupying high positions in the regional political and economic elites. Ethnic (or local) nepotism is being admitted by many experts, though, there haven't been any reliable research works on this matter. People everywhere in Russia face with corruption within various branches of the administration. Persons belonging to the 'native' ethnic groups in many cases can help themselves, using kin, local and ethnic ties, Russians and other non-Muslims usually cannot do so. One of the painful problems in RD is criminal violence (racket etc.), persons belonging to the 'native' ethnic groups, in many cases can be supported and protected by paramilitary groups of 'their' communities, non-Muslims are deprived of this opportunity. Hence, we witness several models of 'structural' discrimination against non-Muslims, but the cases of directs discrimination, harassment and violence are seldom or non-existent. The official protective mechanisms (like courts, public prosecutors etc.) are not effective everywhere in Russia, KBR and RD can hardly be considered exclusions in this respect. Anyway, the situation in KBR is much more stable and effectively controlled by the authorities in KBR than in RD.

In an attachment to Response to Information Request RUS29083.E of 19 March 1998, the programme officer states:

The 'Memorial' Human Rights Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Moscow devoted to investigating and publicizing human rights abuses and educating the public about proposed remedies to alleviate human rights problems. The 'Memorial' HRC founded in 1992 constitutes a branch of the 'Memorial' historical, charitable and enlightenment society, one of the oldest Russian NGOs (established in 1988). The 'Memorial' HRC activities develop in the following main directions: the problems of refugees in Russia, persecutions on political ground in the CIS, discrimination against ethnic minorities in Russia, the 'hot spots' of the former Soviet Union.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Th Memorial Human Rights Centre, Moscow. 18 November 1998. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by the programme officer.