The nationalists said that they were ready to “restore order” themselves (presumably the mean by pogroms), but “it is better if the state does it”.

The video message has already attracted the interest of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, which has requested a report on “investigation of crimes and offenses by foreign citizens in the region”.

It is highly doubtful that this report will show any increase in crimes committed by immigrants in Samara. According to official statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, immigrants commit only 2% of all crimes in Russia, and most of these crimes take place inside the immigrant community.

It is obvious that the nationalists simply decided, as it is fashionable to say nowadays, to “get high on blood” after the monstrous terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

Some people might think that it is a good thing that at the moment the ultranationalists are mostly engaged in denunciations rather than street violence. But unfortunately, that’s not quite the case. The NWMP project, which monitors attacks perpetrated by the far-right, has noted a recent increase in such violence. This is likely to continue as long as the Russian authorities turn a blind eye to the antics of our own nationalists and instead focus on all kinds of crack down on immigrants.

Russian Socialist Movement (RSD)

Translated by Adam Novak

Click here to subscribe to ESSF newsletters in English and or French.