Saratov Anti-Fascists Allege Police Working With Neo-Nazis

[Strengthandhonour]

Saratov Anti-Fascists Allege Police Working With Neo-Nazis

(April 13, 2007)


A group of anti-fascist activists in Saratov, Russia have written an open letter accusing local police of collaborating with neo-Nazis and targeting anti-fascists for torture and threats. The letter, received by UCSJ on April 10, describes a March 31 incident during which neo-Nazis telephoned an anti-fascist and proposed a meeting in a public place. Ten anti-fascists came to the meeting spot, where they encountered an equal number of neo-Nazis who splashed them with some liquid and ran off. The anti-fascists chased them, but were obstructed by police, who were allegedly spurred on by one of the neo-Nazis screaming, “There they are!” The police then took one of the anti-fascists to the station, where they allegedly tortured him in the presence of three neo-Nazis whom the anti-fascists described as acting in a friendly and informal manner with the officers as they clubbed the anti-fascist in his kidneys and asked him the names and addresses of his comrades. He was released the next morning.

The next Saturday (April 7), UBOP (anti-mafia police) officers detained anti-fascists on the street and allegedly threatened them with physical harm if they fight against neo-Nazis in the future. They released them without charging them.

“According to our figures, over the past five years, Nazi skinheads have killed over ten non-Russians in Saratov alone,” the statement read. “Why is the MVD [Ministry of Internal Affairs] hiding this fact?... Murders committed by Nazis are stubbornly classified as hooliganism at the same time that their gangs openly gather in the very center of the city next to police headquarters.”

source: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Saratov Anti-Fascists Allege Police Working With Neo-Nazis