Iosif Kobzon: nationalist sentiments come from lack of culture

Deputy of the State Duma, the People's Artist of the USSR and famous singer Iosif Kobzon, talked to Vestnik Kavkaza about the concept of ethnic crime: "As a member of the State Duma, I can say that this issue is discussed at our parliamentary hearings. I do not want to blame anyone except for criminals, of course, but I am against labelling. Killers are everywhere! Among Jews, among Russians, anywhere there are killers, one cannot exclude the possibility that among Azerbaijanis there are killers too."

"If we talk about migrants, who let the situation happen? The system did. It is not the fault of people who come to Moscow in search of work," Kobzon said.

"One cannot incriminate a people, by connecting this people, this nationality with crimes. Especially when the whole world is celebrating Kurban Bairam, the Muslim holiday," the deputy said.

Kobzon called for control to be taken over the situation and for the flow of migrant workers to be monitored. 

The deputy also said that the manifestation of nationalist sentiment comes only from a lack of culture. "A cultured man will never allow himself any incorrect, offensive actions against other nationalities," Kobzon said.