The study also found that antisemitism and xenophobia were promoted by those adhering to a neo-Nazi ideology, and that Russian antisemitism has no anti-Zionist component, unlike in the European countries, where the antisemitism is closely related to Israeli policies.

“We remember it was not always like this. But today, Russia can serve as an example in the struggle against anti-Semitism, and we hope that no geopolitical challenges will change this attitude”

MOSCOW— Russia is currently experiencing its lowest level of anti-Semitism in history and has the lowest level of anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe, according to Yuri Kanner, the president of the Russian Jewish Congress.

“This is especially clear against the background of the tragic events that occurred on Saturday at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in the United States,” he told the second International Conference on Countering Xenophobia and Anti-Semitism,  titled ‘Protecing the Future’, in Moscow on Monday.

At the conference, attended by some 600 delegates from more than 35 countries, including government representatives and law enforcement officials, as well as international experts in the field, the Russian Jewish Congress released a study, conducted with the support of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the EuroAsian Jewish Congress. Among the key findings was that 8-15 percent of Russians harbor xenophobic tendencies, a decline since 2013.

The study also found that xenophobia in Russia tends to target “ethnically different” groups rather than Jews, who are still considered by Russians to be “one of us.”

The main targets today are natives of the Caucasus, Central Asia, and black people.

The study also found that antisemitism and xenophobia were promoted by those adhering to a neo-Nazi ideology, and that Russian antisemitism has no anti-Zionist component, unlike in the European countries, where the antisemitism is closely related to Israeli policies.

“There will be no anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Russia, and the Russian authorities together with civil society will do everything that is necessary for it,” Valentina Matviyenko, the chairwoman of the Council of the Federation of Russia, the Russian parliament’s upper house, said in a speech during the conference.

Matviyenko is considered the third most important person in Russia after President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

She noted that we live in an age “when there is no more security in the world.” Furthermore, “many radical and extremist groups including promoters of anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and different forms of intolerance toward others have the freedom to act.” ”The Neo-Nazis are raising their heads (…) what is more worrying is that this is happening also in European states and other countries, which present themselves as having the standards of an enlightened society with democracy as well as respect for the rights and freedoms of the individual.” ”To our luck, all these descriptions do not fit modern Russia,” said Matviyenko.

“Ahead of my speech today, I read the reports on the level of anti-Semitism in Russia during 2017 and the first half of 2018, and here is what they said: “We are not aware of attacks or acts of vandalism that were carried out explicitly on the basis of anti-Semitism.”

 

In his address to the delegates, WJC CEO Singer noted that Jews are safer today in Moscow than in many other parts of Europe but urged the Russian government to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. “I am especially pleased that the Russian government, including at its very highest level, is confronting antisemitism with great seriousness, and I am certain that our deliberations today will help us better continue the war against intolerance and hatred.”

It should be noted that the report on the first half of 2018, prepared by the “Sova,” the information analysis center, on behalf of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), does mention some anti-Semitic incidents. For example, in January, unknown arsonists set fire to the car of the chairman of the Jewish community in Murmansk. In Saint Petersburg, graffiti that was sprayed on the building of the headquarters for presidential candidate, Xenia Sobchak said, “a Jew should not be president.”

 

Also, in June, several tombstones in Voronezh’s Jewish cemetery were set on fire. The report also includes instances where anti-Semitic statements were made in Russian media. Nevertheless, the report refers to a drop in the number of anti-Semitic crimes.

 

Vice president of the World Jewish Congress, Robert Singer, read out a letter from president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, who is in the US in light of the recent terror attack in Pittsburgh. Singer reminded the participants that even today, Jewish children still do not feel safe walking the streets of major European cities.

The launch of a branch of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress in Moscow took place on the sidelines of the conference. Established in 2002, the EAJC is a Jewish international organization that currently represents dozens of communities across Eurasian countries. It is presided by Michael Mirilashvili.

In his address, Mirilashvili thanked Russia’s leaders for their uncompromising condemnation of anti-Semitism and for Jewish communities and Jewish organizations operating freely in Russia.

“We remember it was not always like this. But today, Russia can serve as an example in the struggle against anti-Semitism, and we hope that no geopolitical challenges will change this attitude,” he said.