On September 10 and 13, 2002, the League took part in the annual OSCE ODIHR (Office for Democratic Initiatives and Human Rights) Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw holding two briefings on topics of "Xenophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Ethnic Discrimination in Russia" and "After September 11: Democracy And Human Rights in Central Asia."

As members of the Russian NGO Anti-Racism Network, the presenters at the briefing on intolerance in Russian discussed their follow-up to the Durban UN World Conference Against Racism.

--Alexander Akselrod, Tolerance, Moscow
--Natalia Taubina, Foundation for Civil Society, Moscow
--Edgar Aliev, Memorial Human Rights Center, Grozny Branch
--Igor Kuznetsov, Center for Pontic and Caucasian Studies, Krasnodar
--Tanya Lokshina, Moscow Helsinki Group, Moscow

Recent reports from a variety of human rights groups across Russia indicate that problems of racism are increasing and greater engagement is urgently needed from both local and international institutions in order to provide effective remedies.

The following current issues related to xenophobia, racism, and discrimination in Russia today were discussed at the briefing:

* the growth of anti-Caucasian sentiment throughout the Russia provoked by the war in Chechnya

* a surge of racist violence, including recent beatings and killings of people of color in Moscow and elsewhere by skinheads and other extremist youth groups

* a wave of anti-Semitic hate crimes, including with booby-trapped signs saying "Death to the Jews" which have maimed and killed people

* incessant police persecution of many ethnic minorities, primarily in the capital of Moscow, leading to wrongful arrest and often torture

* deterioration of the situation specifically in Krasnodar Krai, where local government officials are attempting to violently deport Meskhetian Turks, a displaced minority denied citizenship, along with rights to housing, property ownership, education, and health care which hinge on registration status.

In their presentations, the NGOs drew both from their field investigations as well as experiences of best practices in encouraging dialogue between local government and law-enforcement agencies and minority communities about human rights protection as well as efforts to bring about improvements in law and practice, and promote tolerance in education and public affairs.

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After the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on September 11 and greater Western engagement in Central Asia, while there have been some concessions made after outside intervention, the overall situation has tended to remain the same or even deteriorate significantly despite expectations. Independent media continue to be paralyzed and shut down; key opposition figures remain in exile or jailed at home; and NGOs are still subject to harassment by authorities who refuse to register them.

--Sergei Duvanov, journalist, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights
--Topchubek Turgunaliev, director of the Institute for Human Rights and Liberties, Kyrgyzstan
--Bermet Bukasheva, editor-in-chief of newspaper "Litsa" (Faces), Kyrgyzstan
--Dododjon Atovulloev, editor-in-chief of Charogy-Ruz, a Tajik newspaper in exile in Germany
--Shukhrat Ganiev, director of Humanitarian Legal Center, Uzbekistan
--Vitaly Ponomarev, director of Central Asian Department, Memorial Human Rights Center, Moscow

The presenters at the briefing on Central Asia commented on the particular situation in their respective countries, while Vitaly Ponomarev shared information on Turkmenistan, based on his experience of working with this country.

* In Kyrgyzstan, the arrest of an opposition parliamentarian touched off an unprecedented wave of mass protests and hunger strikes throughout the country, culminating in the shooting deaths of six unarmed demonstrators by policemen. Calls for an impartial investigation and prosecutor of those responsible for the events remain unheeded.

* In Uzbekistan, the massive crackdown against devout Muslims outside state-sanctioned religious organizations who have been accused of terrorism has continued, while the country's strongman, President Karimov has extended his term in power for another 5 years in a recent referendum.

* In Kazakhstan, the increasingly despotic President Nazarbaev, facing a re-energized and more assertive opposition, has been hard at work trying to root out the remaining vestiges of free media and throwing in prison two leading opposition leaders, Zhakiyanov and Ablyazov.

* In Turkmenistan, the medieval-style cult of President-for-life Niyazov (Turkmenbashi) has recently become the brunt of jokes around the world with the recent re-naming of days of the week and months, one after himself and another one after his mother. But there is nothing humorous about the level of oppression in the country, where all independent media, opposition groups, and human rights NGOs are banned.

* Tajikistan is still in the process of nation- and civil society-building after a long and bloody civil war. The economy is in shambles, while the situation is further complicated by a large number of refugees in the country and guest-workers outside of it.

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