Dismay at Kyrgyz Envoy's Neo-Nazi Talks

A Kyrgyz diplomat’s attempt to persuade Russian far-right nationalists to rein in racist violence against migrant workers has caused consternation at home.



Human rights activists warn that talking to neo-Nazis only lends them undeserved credibility and legitimacy.



Racist violence against migrant workers from Central Asia and the Caucasus are a major problem in Russia. The Moscow Bureau for Human Rights recorded 300 xenophobic attacks in Russia last year, as result of which 122 people were killed and 380 wounded.



The human rights group said there were tens of thousands of skinheads and radical nationalists who were prone to carrying out such attacks.



In an effort to tackle the problem, Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador in Moscow, Raimkul Attokurov, took the unusual step of meeting far-right leader Dmitry Demushkin on January 19 this year.



Demushkin heads the Slavic Union, one of a number of Russian nationalist groups with neo-Nazi tendencies. The group’s Russian initials spell SS, its members give a Nazi-style salute and its emblem looks like a reworked swastika.



Explaining why he chose to meet Demushkin, the ambassador told the Kyrgyzstan newspaper Delo №, “My mission as representative of Kyrgyzstan is to protect the interests of its people living in Russia, regardless of their social status, ethnicity or religion…. And I believe I must take any step, even an extraordinary one, to achieve this.”



In the January 28 interview, Attokurov claimed his approach had been a success and that Demushkin had instructed Slavic Union branches all across Russia to treat people from Kyrgyzstan with “greater tolerance”.



It was not made clear how the average member of the group was going to distinguish Kyrgyz from other Central Asian nationals not covered by the new policy.



Members of the Kyrgyz diaspora in Russia were generally welcoming of the talks.



“The ambassador told us about his initiative, and we had mixed feelings about it, ranging from shock to joy,” said Asylbek Egemberdiev, editor-in-chief at the KG-INFO.RU news portal, which provides information for Kyrgyzstan nationals in Russia.



In the end, though, Egemberdiev believes the initiative paid off.



“The ambassador managed to convince a man who heads a network of nationalist groups to be more tolerant towards the Kyrgyz,” he said. “The situation subsequently started gradually improving for the better.”



Juma Abdullayev, who heads the Zamandash Association which represents Kyrgyz migrants, also supported the ambassador’s initiative.



“Many issues and problems get left to fester at an administrative level due to bureaucratic obstacles,” he said. “You need to meet people like Demushkin and explain things to them, and they will understand your point.”



Back in Kyrgyzstan, some human rights activists praised Attokurov for his courage.



“Yes, the ambassador took an unprecedented step, but you have to take such steps for the sake of your compatriots’ lives,” said prominent activist Natalia Ablova, who heads the Bureau for Human Rights and Legal Compliance. “The embassy’s purpose is to protect the rights of Kyrgyz citizens, and by doing this, the embassy is indeed performing this function.”



However, many others were taken aback.



On January 30, the Moscow-based Memorial group urged official and non-government institutions not to enter into contact with far-right groups, as this might contribute to greater legitimacy for them.



“We strongly condemn such attempts to make advances to the neo-Nazis. We firmly believe that neither the authorities nor public associations – even those of a nationalist bent – should collaborate with those who not only propagate racism but also regard violence as a valid form of political action,” said the statement.



“The fact that it was the Kyrgyz ambassador to Russia, not an ordinary diplomat who was involved in the meeting with Demushkin is shocking.”



Kyrgyzstan’s human rights ombudsman Tursunbek Akun agreed, saying Attokurov had taken “a dangerous step”.



“If an official holds talks with the neo-Nazis, he recognises their legitimacy, and this is fundamentally wrong,” said Akun.



He said Russian police had an obligation to prevent Kyrgyz nationals being subjected to attack, and it was not for the ambassador to try to arrange a deal with possible perpetrators.



“The problem… needs to be resolved at government level, and a meeting between the Kyrgyz ambassador and a neo-Nazi leader is not going to solve it,” he added.



Daniil Kislov, a Moscow-based commentator on Central Asian affairs, questioned the point of holding talks with a man who did not control all of Russia’s various nationalist groups and had no ability to influence the nationalist sentiments commonly held in the wider Russian society.



“We need to remember that Demushkin is not the leader of all skinheads,” said Kislov. “It would be far more effective to build up an absolute intolerance of fascists and murderers through public awareness campaigns.”



Mirgul Akimova is a pseudonym of an independent journalist in Bishkek.