Although, living conditions of most labor migrants are terrible, this year has started with even more disturbing facts of murders allegedly based on ethnic hatred. Most of the murders through numerous stab-wounds, are affiliated with so called "skinheads", a group of extremely nationalist young men, which hunt down people of non-slavic dissidence.
Russian xenophobic attitude has always been an issue since the start of Kyrgyz-Russian relations. Even Soviet times cannot deny such attitude in Kyrgyz SSR as well as in Russia. Any USSR born Kyrgyz will cofirm this. And there have been attacks and killings in Russia since the late 90's. Presently, it is far from mass movements of nazis or ethnic genocide, however, it has been a hot issue in the media for the last two months. Why?
- Because the number of migrants is increasing, thus the level of crimes with their participation also increases
- There have not been much of immigration in the territory of former USSR, except for 1930's. It takes time to establish cultural tolerance.
- Xenophobic attitude always existed, heavily tabooed in Soviet times. Political changes in the late 20 years gave freedom to positive as well as negative attitudes.
- First wave of immigrants have settled down their immediate material needs and started to seek for fulfillment of higher needs like equality and fair treatment.
Unfortunately, it is normal process and time is the main factor. Another factor is effort done by Russian government and immigrant diasporas to demand their rights in the legal framework.
