On Tuesday The Moscow Times published an article by Alexei Bayer headlined 'Anti-Semitic, Anti-Gay but Not Anti-West' and devoted to xenophobia in present-day Russia.
"Dictators prefer to keep their borders closed, and in Russia, the land of the original Iron Curtain, isolation and repression have always been inexorably linked," the article begins.
"The official anti-Semitism of the Soviet era was part of the government's attempt to cut its citizens off from the outside world. Jews have always been international in outlook, thanks to the existence of a widely scattered Jewish diaspora," the author says.
"Anti-Semitism, especially of the official variety, abated in the post-Soviet era, when borders were opened and censorship disappeared. Xenophobia was focused on other outsiders: newcomers from the Caucasus, Central Asian and Chinese migrants and African students. But anti-Jewish sentiment returned to pro-government publications — at least on the Internet — with the start of street protests in December, intensifying during the recent trial of the Pussy Riot punk band."
"Significantly, there has also been a flurry of anti-gay legislation, such as laws penalizing "the propaganda of homosexuality." The modern gay culture is highly international and open, and the gay community in many ways resembles the Jewish community, being both integrated in the mainstream and maintaining a certain distance from it — enough to be accused of belonging to some "worldwide conspiracy," the article reads
"Such xenophobic trends are worrisome, but they may not be as dangerous as they seem. Russia's borders remain wide open, and the ruling elites have no interest in depriving themselves of trips abroad, real estate holdings on the Riviera and imported luxury cars. On the contrary, a deal to ease visa requirements with Washington is going into effect Sept. 9, and talks are ongoing about abolishing visas for Russians traveling to Western Europe."
"There is simply no going back to the Stalinist isolation of the past. The xenophobic elements in Russia may be trying to stir up hatred for the "fifth column," but their rage is as intense as it is impotent. They can't help but see that they're fighting a losing battle," the author concludes.
