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Russia: Treatment of Armenians

In a study on nationalism and xenophobia in Russia published in 1999, author Emil Pain states that:

Ethnophobia -- the idea that foreigners (non-Russians and non-orthodox people) are to blame for all the ills that have befallen Russia, that non-Russians in Russia have too many rights and they abuse the opportunities granted to them; this xenophobia is sharply manifested with respect to the Chechens, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, and other ethnic groups that have formed fairly effective structures for ethnic entrepreneurship in the cities of Russia and therefore frequently evoke feelings of envy and ill will...

In his first report to the State Duma (Russian federal parliament) since his appointment as Human Rights Ombudsman, Oleg Mironov states that :

Most disturbing is the heightened activity of forces that are professing ideas of chauvinism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and aggressive nationalism, as well as frequent attacks of hooligans on people of this and that nationality, profanations of graves on the Jewish, Armenian, and Moslem cemeteries, pillaging of churches  and bomb explosions in synagogues...(ITAR-TASS 4 Mar. 1999)

Further information to the above and to the information provided in the Country Reports 1998 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

ITAR-TASS [Moscow, in English]. 4 March 1999. "Complaints Made Over Rights in Russia." (FBIS-SOV-1999-0305 4 Mar. 1999/WNC)

Literaturnaya Gazeta [Moscow, in Russian]. 27 January 1999. "Emil Pain Examines Xenophobia, Nationalism." (No Document Number. FBIS Translated Text/WNC).

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Website.

Armenian Assembly of America Website.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) Website.

Transitions [Prague]. Website.

One oral source was unable to provide information within the established research deadlines.

One oral source could not be contacted within the established research deadline.

Topics: Armenian, Terrorism,