RUSSIA The control of nationalities in Russia

In view of the separatist impulses, the head of the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs of Russia proposes to modify the control system. In Russian law and legal practice there are no criteria for classifying riots and discontent as “problems between nationalities”, and they are often underestimated as “economic disagreements” or “street clashes”.

Moscow () – The Russian Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FADN) has proposed to modify the federal system for monitoring relations between ethnic groups and religions, and for the prevention of conflict situations. This was reported by the head of the agency, Igor Barinov, in response to the multiple concerns that are accumulating as a result of the separatist and identity forces that have emerged in recent times. Experts are divided on whether to limit themselves to “technical adjustments” of the system, or on the contrary to radically change the nationality policy, an issue that has been discussed in Russia for centuries.

The proposals in this regard are being examined by all interested bodies, with the aim of reaching a common response by the end of July. The State regulations portal will remain open for a few more days to receive all suggestions. Barinov spoke out against resorting to the GISM system that is used to mark leather products and allows remote control and prevention. He stated that “automated functions are not really effective if there is no overall control system,” and that collaboration among the many federal structures requires “active sharing of confidential information.”

But in any case, increasingly strict control measures are needed, given the inefficiency even of the “Situation Center” that was created at the end of last year and should control 88 federal issues in collaboration with local authorities. It is above all about “technical-legal dimensions”, as political science professor Mikhail Burda points out. “These are important decisions -he explains- to optimize the work, but they do not reach to offer a faithful image of reality”. The “automated” control only serves to prepare reports in which officials mutually discharge responsibilities, continues Burda.

Instead, according to the political scientist, the data should be used to make an in-depth analysis of ethnopolitical problems, and this could force us to “pay attention to the many situations that are not favorable to the bureaucracy that deals with the sector.” In Russia, the principle governs that there are no inter-ethnic conflicts, despite the “attempts of saboteurs,” Barinov recalled at the recent St. Petersburg Economic Forum, and therefore often “even cases of conflicts are not recorded and very relevant problems”.

In Russian legislation, and in legal practice, there are no criteria that would qualify disorders and discontents as “problems between nationalities.” They are often categorized as “economic disputes, street clashes,” or with an even more generic expression, “reciprocal intolerance relations that have sprung up out of the blue.” That is why many direct their attention precisely to the clarification of the criteria rather than to surveillance techniques: “first reality, then the tools”, says Burda.

It is very evident that the FADN does not have the necessary financial means and personnel for such in-depth work, all the experts admit. Since it does not have branches distributed throughout the territory, it depends on uncertain data from local administrations, which often tend to underestimate or misrepresent the problems; According to Burda, “there is a lack of central political will to coordinate this immense work,” which would require “an intervention by the federal government to establish an interethnic, migratory, and even demographic policy in the context of national policy as a whole.” All these issues today are divided between different entities that often collaborate very little with each other.

The director of the Moscow government’s Human Rights Office, Aleksandr Brod, also intervened in the debate, warning that “in a context as wide and varied as Russia, a small spark is enough to start a big fire.” He cites as an example the recent clashes in several Russian cities between Tajiks and Uzbeks, and the violent police crackdowns. It is not enough to reinforce police controls and interventions, which are in danger of causing an outbreak throughout the empire.