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BBC Monitoring
Ill treatment of Caucasians in Russia rooted in
behaviour - Armenian analyst
Source: Azg, Yerevan, in Armenian 9 Jan 02 p4
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Azg on 9 January entitled "For an ordinary Russian an insolent black-haired man is a native of Caucasus"
Rouben Ayrapetyan, a correspondent of the Azg daily in Russia's capital was visiting Yerevan on the occasion of New Year. By taking advantage of his visit, we asked him to deeply investigate the reasons behind the mounting cases of ill treatment of Armenians in Moscow and Russia. Rouben Ayrapetyan has lived in Moscow for 25 years and his view of the problem may be of interest to our readers.
As our readers may know, during a recent incident at one of Moscow's markets, an Armenian national was violently killed during an attack on the market by a gang of Russian 'skin heads'. The gang targeted 'people with dark hair'- Caucasians. Ayrapetyan dismissed the prevalent viewpoint in Armenia that there are obvious anti-Caucasian manifestations everywhere in Moscow. Mr Ayrapetyan said that it is exaggerated to some extent and one does not meet people full of hatred and contempt on each step, but it is true that there is a general atmosphere of antipathy.
The reasons for this can be political, economic, social or moral, but the main thing, in the opinion of Mr Hayrapetian, is the conduct of everyday life, contacts, and the difference of mentalities. Caucasians have a contemptuous and supercilious attitude towards locals, which naturally creates tension. To top this, many natives of the Caucasus are engaged in criminal activities. Answering our question whether Russians in Moscow treat Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Dagestanis and Chechens similarly, Mr Ayrapetian said that Chechens are treated worst of all. As regards Armenians, he said that for years a large community of Armenian intellectuals existed in Moscow, which conditioned the positive opinion about Armenians.
This community still exists, but together with it there has emerged layers of traders, workers and criminals which, to put it mildly, harm the image of our nation. For a common Russian an impudent black-haired man has one nationality - Caucasian. During the Soviet era there was the 'person of Jewish nationality' expression and now there is another one - 'person of Caucasian nationality'.
The main contingent of 'unskilled' Caucasians in Moscow can be seen in markets, where Azeris dominate. In fact, they have taken over the markets and nearby territories, opened their barbecue spots and 'chaikhanas' (tea houses), as well as open-air fairs. Walking through them you feel like you are in Baku, and seeing Azeris' arrogant and self-satisfied faces, one feels really sick. And it goes without saying that Russians are not filled with warm feelings when they enter such places.
In reply to our question that in Russia, the Caucasians do the 'menial' work that locals refuse to do, Mr Ayrapetyan said that Russians would agree with Caucasians' presence in Russia if they behaved like guests. But Caucasians act like masters and behave impudently everywhere. Accusing Russians of being drunkards, deprived of initiative and capability to work, they claim that they (the Caucasians) are hard workers and entrepreneurs and bring benefits to Russia.
Mr Ayrapetyan says that Russian nationalism has not yet acquired extreme forms, but to exclude such a possibility, bearing in mind the recent attacks on Caucasians, would be incorrect. He referred to a leaflet, distributed by a Russian nationalist organization which said that 85 per cent of Russia's population are Russians, but they are currently the world's poorest nation deprived of any rights. According to the leaflet, it is because Russia is governed not by Russians but by Jews. People of Jewish nationality hold more than 80 per cent of posts in the Russian government, their goal being to rob Russia's capital and transfer the accumulated fortunes to foreign banks. Against the background of the Russian nation's destruction, the Jewish mafia promotes the inflow of Asians, Caucasians and even Africans. These Caucasian and Asian mobs have already occupied all the markets forcing Russians out of all profitable businesses. As a result of Russians' destruction, Jews, Asians and Caucasians will gain power in Russia and aim to divide the country between NATO, Caucasians, Chinese and others.
Mr Ayrapetyan also said that the issue could have been solved in a civilized manner if the level of in Russia was not so high. If Russians accuse Caucasians that they 'make money from air', then at the same time they should not ignore the fact that Caucasians "feed" the local police, city authorities and criminals. But the authorities in Russia are dealing with this problem. The State Duma recently discussed the draft law on the 'legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation' which envisages introduction of quotas for foreign citizens who can enter Russia. It is difficult to predict the results of legislative changes. At present the most horrible thing can occur would be if Caucasians respond to the provocation of radical Russians. Then the situation will become a real chaotic one.
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