On Monday the Moscow City Court began hearings on the case of the murder of Egor Sviridov, who was killed on December 6, 2010. The police arrested six participants in the fight. Aslan Cherkessov from Kabardino-Balkaria was accused of murder. For almost a year the authorities of the NCFD urged not to confuse common fights with inter-ethnic conflicts, but the media still exaggerates the inter-ethnic confrontation theme. Recently, at a meeting of the Russian Public Chamber, the coordinator of the youth club of the All-Russian People’s Council, Alexander Rudakov, spoke on the topic.
On Dagestan’s experience
I’d like to argue with the thesis that there are no ethnic conflicts in Dagestan. Of course there are ethnic conflicts in this republic, as well as in any other one in the Caucasus. That’s another thing - these conflicts are settled with the help of the most respected members of this or that community. A united Dagestan couldn’t exist if there were no such practice. Such practice affects not only governmental issues, but also cultural ones. I’d like to examine the situation in Dagestan and find out how the rest of Russia can adopt its practices. What would happen if all the people living in Dagestan (the Dargins, the Avars, the Kymyks, the Lezgins, the Tabasarans) were called simply "Dagestanis"? I think that would lead to very serious conflicts. What if the population of Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria were declared one people? It may seem fair to establish one civic identity, but in fact it’s not fair to ignore ethnic differences. It could lead to severe conflicts. The situation I have just described is similar to that existing in Russia in general. In Russia, civic identity replaces the ethnic one. All citizens are considered ‘Russians.’ No one understands that it’s unfair. In fact, it’s very dangerous to forget about your origins. However, that’s what we see nowadays in Russia.
On the Russian factor
The Russian problem, the problem of Russian identity, is underestimated. Even in Soviet times, when the state was imposing an integrational ideology, people living in Russia felt they were Russians. The word ‘Russian’ didn’t meant ‘radical’, as it does nowadays. Today, officials are very sceptical about the word ’Russian.’
On the role of officials
When I went to the Moscow House of Nationalities (which was established in order to promote national culture) and asked for permission to open a section of the World Russian People’s Council, I was told that they cannot allow it. The official I was talking to simply thought that there is no such nationality as the Russians.
On globalization of the problem
The main problem is not that of young people, but that of the officials. The problem is the course promoted by the country’s authorities. They think that our people don’t feel themselves to be Russians, they believe our people consider themselves men and women or some kind of professionals and that is all. The authorities focus on social problems; they pay no attention to problems surrounding nationality. That’s what I think about the current state of affairs. These people are not even trying to solve the existing problems. This position is fallacious. National identity was formed by dozens of generations.
This national identity cannot be ignored. It will never vanish. It’s very unwise to ignore this problem. If the Russian identity were replaced by a white identity or something like that, it would be very dangerous for our society. Racial problems are very serious ones. They are imported from other countries, countries where such problems exist. What do I suggest?
It’s necessary for prominent social leaders to examine the behaviour of other members of their community. This practice should be formalized. There should be some bodies that would speak on behalf of its people.
On ways to a solution
I understand that officials are sick and tired of these problems. I understand that they are not ready to finance new national bodies. Of course they would rather ignore the whole problem. Still, I believe that topic should be widely discussed. We need some structures that would express nations’ interests. Our common civic identity should be based on our common values, but that doesn’t mean that our national identity should not be respected. This is especially relevant to Russians, as in the last twenty years the word ‘Russian’ itself was seldom used. We should find some way out of this situation.
VK
