RUSSIA: BATTLE AGAINST INCREASE IN FASCISM скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: BATTLE AGAINST INCREASE IN FASCISM

(25 Mar 1995) Russian/Nat Fifty years after the end of a war which cost the lives of 20-million Soviets, Russia is again battling the forces of political extremism-- this time from within. Economic hardship and an unstable political climate have provided fertile ground for a number of extreme right-wing groups in Russia. The Russian government, already under fire over the recent war in Chechnya, is now trying to crack down on political extremism, ahead of victory day celebrations and a scheduled visit from a US delegation. A monthly meeting of the Russian National Union, one of Russia's numerous patriotic parties. In a symbolic gesture of defiance, members wipe their feet on the American flag before entering. It's viewed as a sign of patriotism and anti-Western feeling. But it quickly becomes clear that the real theme of the meeting is targeted at arousing anti-Jewish sentiment. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "This morning we are marking yet another anniversary of the establishment of the Open Yids' Talumic regime in 1917." SUPER CAPTION: Aleksei Vdovin, leader Russian National Union Anti Semitic literature is freely available to this group. Many of the groups that now call themselves nationalist or patriotic openly publish booklets and information which inspires and incites racial hatred. But hatred of the Jews in Russia is nothing new. SOUNDBITE: "There was a young boy who used to beat me up when I was walking home. There was one path I had to take home, and he'd be waiting there for me, and he'd either pull my hair, I had long hair then, or look my way, or spit my way, and call me a dirty Jew or things like that. It went on for quite a while." SUPERCAPTION: Bella Yarova, Russian Jew Bella Yarova left the Soviet Union for America in 1970. She was born in Odessa, a Jewish community in Ukraine. But even so, anti-Semitism was rife in the city. Bella spent her childhood under constant verbal and physical attack because she was Jewish. Last year she returned to Russia to work for a Western company and found that anti- Semitism was still strong.. and little had changed. Now she is afraid to go to the synagogue, for fear of being stoned and ridiculed. She is convinced that anti-Semitism is inherent in the Russian people. SOUNDBITE: "People kind of pass it off from grandparents to kids to their grandchildren, I just don't see it ending. Even now, if anything it's gotten worse, can be published hatred letters against Jewish people." SUPERCAPTION: Bella Yarova, Russian Jew Just a few yards from the Kremlin and stalls selling pro-Nazi books are doing a good trade. The material blames the Jews for the rise of organised crime and the present economic chaos. Books such as these would be banned in the West. But the publishers in Russia remain unrepentant: SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I am convinced that if the Jews don't stop this thieving, and if they don't stop their Jewish Mafia from this thievery against the Russian people, then we'll make sure that there are no Jews left in Russia, we'll send them to Israel." SUPER CAPTION: Viktor Korchagin, Director Yitzyaz Publishing House Korchagin has been sued for his racial comments by a Jewish organisation. But Russian laws are still largely unchanged from the Soviet era, and contain no reference to fascism or extremist movements. For the nationalist group Pamyat, the worse life becomes in Russia under its new found capitalism.. the more members they sign up. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...