ANTI-FASCISTS AND FASCISTS IN RUSSIA

While fascists in Russia appear to be given a free hand by the police, the same is not so with those who oppose them.

The Moscow News reports that police prevented human rights activists from attending a City Hall-approved rally against fascism near Belorussky Station on Sunday, and when demonstrators rallied instead at City Hall, dozens were promptly detained and whisked away to a police station.

"We are outraged at how the authorities are playing games with fascists and not allowing us to say a word," Nikita Belykh, leader of the liberal Union of Right Forces party, or SPS, said outside the Tverskoi police station, where riot police brought 52 protesters. Some say as many as 200 were arrested.

Among those detained Sunday were leading human rights activists Sergei Kovalyov of the Institute for Human Rights, Dmitry Orlov of Memorial and Svetlana Gannushkina of Civic Assistance. Also detained were Alexander Osovtsov, the leader of Open Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky's human rights group, as well as prominent liberal activists Alexander Ryklin and Yevgenia Albats.

The rally was organized to protest against the government’s earlier decision to ban an anti-nationalist event in Moscow.

"We are very alarmed by the authorities' actions that allow fascist marches and prohibit us from providing an adequate response," Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the Moscow branch of the liberal Yabloko party, said just minutes before police dispersed the rally. "Authorities need to keep the fascist genie tight in the bottle. Instead, they keep letting it out of the bottle."

The square in front of Belorussky Station was tightly sealed off by police at the time the rally was due to begin. No one was allowed to breach the perimeter. Asked why demonstrators were not being allowed into the square, a police officer, who did not give his name, said police had been ordered to prevent provocations.

Police then swooped down on the anti-fascists who rallied at the different location not far away.

“Police grabbing people who were chanting anti-Nazi slogans — it was a great show,” one of the detained rally participants, journalist Yevgenia Albats, was quoted by newsru.com as saying.

"It is forbidden by Moscow authorities to stage a rally here," a police captain shouted through a megaphone into the struggling crowd.

"It is allowed by the Constitution for citizens to gather," someone shouted back from the crowd.

Police cleared the square in about five minutes Sunday. A police officer picked a large paper sign reading, "The Mayor's Office Encourages Fascists" from the wet street and tore it into pieces.

Ultranationalists had planned large rallies Sunday (which were approved by the authorities), but apparently few people showed up.

In a statement posted on its web site, the Movement Against Illegal Immigration, or DPNI, said it had held small demonstrations at 37 open markets across Moscow on Sunday afternoon under the banners "Moscow Belongs to Us!" and "Russians, Arm Yourselves!" The claims could not be independently verified. There were no signs Sunday of any demonstrators at two markets in northern Moscow where DPNI said it had organized rallies.

However, less then three works earlier 3000 fascists and skinheads marched through the city center carrying racist signs and giving the Nazi salute. The police looked on and did nothing.

The white supremacist National Vanguard based in Charlottesville, Virginia reported on its web site that march was meant to send a message for, "Moscow to wake up their fellow compatriots and send the White people’s message to the aliens: get out of the country while you still have a chance to do it in safety.” The National Vanguard boasted, “On this day it became obvious that Russian Nationalism has finally become a major force on the political scene of the country.”

On November 13, anti-fascist activist, anarchist, and musician Timur Kacharava was murdered by neo-nazis on Ligovsky prospekt in St. Petersburg city centre, Russia.

According to Anarchismo following a FOOD NOT BOMBS action outside Vladimirskaya metro station, Timur, Maxim Zgibai and a couple of friends ”were suddenly and brutally attacked by a group of around 8-10 neo-nazis, screaming “anti-antifa (anti-fascist).” Timur was stabbed repeatedly in the body and neck, severing the carotid artery. Zgibai was stabbed 5 times in the chest and back, and had his head cracked open.

Anarchismo reports, "Following the vicious attack, which lasted about a minute, Max managed to call out for an ambulance to the security guard inside the bookshop. When Max came to the aid of Timur, he couldn’t feel his pulse. Timur was white and lying in a pool of his own blood. He was already dead. His friends could do nothing to save him.”

Zgibaj is still hospitalized in serious condition.

Anarchismo says there is a strong underground fascist movement in Russia, which is associated with the Partiya Svobody (Freedom Party), RNE (Russian National Unity) and DPNI (Movement Against Illegal Immigration) political parties. Street parades by these parties have taken place in St Petersburg, with the participation of neo-nazis chanting racist and nationalistic dogma. It is believed by anti-fascists that these are the groups which are responsible for the attack.

While a police investigation is underway, the lack of response to previous attacks on anti-fascists and immigrants does not bode well for any reasonable conclusion.

The city governor of St Petersburg and some mainstream media has claimed that Timur’s murder was by random “hooligans”, and not politically motivated.

A group called simply “Friends of Timur” says, “It is a disgrace to Timur’s memory to claim that his death was for anything other than political reasons. Timur was murdered for his beliefs in equality and freedom - we cannot forget that.” Sources: MOSNews, Moscow Times, National Vanguard, Anarchismo