Ha'aretz - 04.22.2004

Ha'aretz Daily

ADL: Russian anti-Jewish attacks not rising, but more violent

By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent

The number of anti-Semitic attacks in Russia did not increase in 2003, but the attacks themselves became more violent, according to a report issued Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League.

"While the number of incidents remained stable in 2003, the nature of attacks has become more violent," said Alexander Axelrod, the director of ADL's Moscow office.

"It is encouraging that President Vladimir Putin has publicly denounced the nationalist ideology and has supported legal action against anti-Semitic publishers and skinheads," Axelroad said."

"At the same time, we are discouraged by the reluctance by lower-level officials to take action in responding to anti-Semitic incidents."

Among the incidents listed in the report were the explosion of a small bomb that was thrown through the window of a Jewish kindergarten in Kaliningrad, western Russia, and the attempted arson of a synagogue in Bryansk. 

According to the ADL report, there are 80 Russian Web sites and three Web portals which are regularly engaged in distributing anti-Semitic propaganda online.