Analytical report of the Center "SOVA: Press unwittingly conducted public relations campaign skinheads.

entitled "Spring 2006: Skin-PR campaign", was presented to journalists in Moscow on June 20.

"After reviewing the available information at our disposal, we have found some unexpected for themselves", - said the author of the report, deputy director of the Center "SOVA" Galina Kozhevnikova. Contrary to popular belief the spring of 2006, the surge does not become a racist crime. Moreover, for the first time since the start of monitoring in 2004, emerged in the spring, reducing the number of victims, she said. "At the same time, the number of dead, the crimes become more violent, more demonstrative and calculated to attract the press," - noted Galina Kozhevnikova.

According to statistics from the Center "SOVA" during the spring of 2006 suffered from racist attacks 87 people, 14 of them were killed (the spring of 2005 killed 5 people, 117 have been beaten and injured), all the same in the first five months of the year affected 137 people, of whom 18 died.

In addition, the report notes, if "Nazi" version of the killing in St. Petersburg student from Senegal, Samba Lampsara true, can we talk about the first known case of skinheads use of firearms, which brings to mind, the company's acquisition legal weapons deployed even in spring 2005 near pravoradikalnyh organizations.

"Subject skinheads or - in a broader interpretation - xenophobia for a long time been the subject of attention of mass media and Russian society as a whole. The reaction of the media was often hysterical character is do not contribute to a constructive discussion of the problem. Moreover, in the opinion of observers, in many cases publications have a direct promotion of skin movement and pravoradikalnyh organizations "- the report says.

fact occurred legitimization by the media in the public consciousness the most notorious figures pravoradikalnyh movements. "This is, in my opinion, the most negative result of the spring months," - commented Galina Kozhevnikova.

"racist, which is invited to television, did not consider broadcasting as a platform for discussion - explained the director of the Center" SOVA "Alexander Verkhovsky. - He did not diskutiruet - it appeals to viewers with on the big screen as a television rally. Journalists should be aware of that. "

How big success pravoradikalov author of the report considered a series of homophobic activities carried out in May. Particularly worrisome, she said, that in the wake of homophobia was closing orthodox fundamentalist groups and skinheads, which does not differ religiosity, as well as parts levoradikalnyh youth movements. Legitimization pravoradikalnyh groups has, in particular, and the demonstration on television handshake between the idol of youth by Yuri Shevchuk, and one of the leaders of the odious pravoradikalnoy organization.

The report also notes the active pravoradikalov adherence to the public acts, organized by other social forces, especially the Communist Party: "DPNI easy, and most importantly - the small forces (groups of activists to 100 people ) - turns the events of Communists in xenophobic demonstrations. "

"We have never seen such divergent trends - commented Galina Kozhevnikova. - On the one hand, pravoradikaly not very active, on the other hand, they have found empirical approaches that appeal to on their side of social forces nepravoy direction. "

Referring to counteract racism and xenophobia, the report noted that "the prosecutor's office ceases to be afraid to bring charges" in Art. 282 of the Criminal Code (incitement of national, religious or racial hatred).

"A very positive fact that the St. Petersburg prosecutor's office acknowledged that the neo-Nazi groups may carry out targeted looting for its activities, which is recognized in the West have long," - she added, keeping in mind the situation with a group of Dmitry Borovikov, who died in detention. "Before, when skinheads beat their victim while stealing her money or a mobile phone, it is usually a formal reason for the denial of skinheads charged with a crime committed is motivated by hate. One can only hope that such recognition is a testament to overcome psychological barrier and a sense of systemic problems of radical nationalism, rather than a propaganda gesture, made in anticipation of the summit of Group of Eight - the report says.

At the same time, Galina Kozhevnikova said the resumption of the trend towards the appointment of conditional sentences to persons convicted of crimes under Art. 282 of the Criminal Code. According to her, the practice shows that this only reinforces their feeling of impunity and to push for relapse.

The report also notes that in spring 2006 (for the first time in the last three years) in Russia has been eliminated for the promotion of ethnic and religious strife NGO - "Rada land Kubanskaya Spiritually - Family Russ Powers, is a fairly anekdoticheskuyu neoyazycheskuyu organization. "Mental health of these people is questionable, but the organization is not a harmless - commented Galina Kozhevnikova. - That it has claimed responsibility for one of the massacres committed in 2004 in the Krasnodar Territory."

At the same time, the report notes a disturbing moment - increased pressure for democratic freedoms under the guise of combating extremism.

First of all, we are talking about "caricatural" scandals in the Volgograd and Arkhangelsk regions and try to eliminate in the Altai news agency Bankfaks "by the Rosohrankulturoy. "If the position of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in some regions, there are positive trends, the level of officials it did not happen," - said Galina Kozhevnikova.