The recent nationalistic riots in Moscow have stirred Russian society and became a subject of vehement debates. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that such tendencies are extremely harmful to public security and called upon the police to use all lawful means to suppress the riots. "Acts aimed at inciting racial, national or religious hatred...threaten the stability of the state," the President said. Vestnik Kavkaza has asked the representatives of the Caucasian diasporas to share their opinions.
Denga Khalidov, co-chair of the Russian Congress of Caucasian Peoples
We condemn such actions. A peaceful demand to start a fair investigation has turned into a nationalistic riot in the capital of Russia, at the center of the Russian Federation. I believe that these people, blinded by hatred, are controlled by some hostile power. These people are trying to use radical nationalists and fascists for their own interests. The leaders of this movement are well-known, and we call upon the Government to take certain measures.
Eldar Kuliyev, the Executive Director of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress
We blame this movement. We believe that the murder of the football fan was used to start nationalistic riots and mass violence. Among the victims were several innocent Azerbaijani people. We welcome the recent statements of President Medvedev and the Minister of Internal Affairs. The collapse of the Soviet Union was provoked by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the results of present-day nationalistic riots in Russia could be terrible.
Lyusik Gukasyan, Vice President of the Russian Union of Armenians
I am certain that the representatives of the Caucasian diasporas, the officials and public figures, should discuss the current state of affairs and elaborate a common strategy. As a multinational state, Russia needs a balanced ethnic policy. The country doesn't have one today. Speaking about recent events, I would say that it is a great tragedy.
Evgeny Krishtalev. Exclusively to VK
