Doc. 8305 2^nd edition
12 February 1999

Anti-semitism in the Russian Federation

Written Declaration No. 287

2^nd edition, originally tabled on 25 January 1999

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

      The undersigned, members of the Assembly, denounce the following:

1.       Having regard to the worrying increase in violent anti-semitism which has given rise to many demonstrations inciting hatred against Jews, the most recent being on 3 and 7 November in Moscow and Samara which were led by General Albert Makashov, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia;

2.       Having regard to the General's calls for "death to Jews" during the electoral campaign of October 1998;

3.       Having regard to the many anti-semitic articles in the press, including those of 20 October 1998 in the newspaper, ZAVTRA (Tomorrow),

i. regret the outcome of the debate of 4 November 1998 in the Duma, where a motion of censure "on the inadmissibility of actions and comments that complicate relations between nationalities in the Russian Federation" against General Makashov was not adopted;

ii. call on the Speaker of the Duma, Mr Gennady Seleznyov to ensure the application of its existing legal instruments, punishing "incitement to racial, ethnic and religious hatred";

iii. call on the Government and the Parliament of the Russian Federation to strengthen the legal instruments condemning racism, antisemitism and xenophobia;

iv. call on the State Duma of the Russian Federation to reconsider the censure motion against General Makashov for inciting racial hatred;

v. note that the Russian Federation should make further efforts in strengthening the rule of law, especially in the field of human rights and the struggle against racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism.

Signed : ¹

van der Maelen, Belgium, SOC

Behrendt, Germany, SOC

Blaauw, Netherlands, LDR

Bühler, Germany, EPP/CD

Eyskens, Belgium, EPP/CD

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Nothomb, Belgium, EPP/CD

Staes, Belgium, EPP/CD

Gnaga, Italy, NR

Turini, Italy, EDG

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Simonsen, Norway, NR

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Polydoras, Greece, EPP/CD

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

De Decker, Belgium, LDR

________________

Total = 16

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG:European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL : Group of the Unified European Left

      NR : Not registered in a group