MOSCOW, Russia - Over the past few years Russia has been striding back onto the world stage. Yet in step with that growing international self-confidence has been the shadow of racial intolerance within its borders.So-called hate crimes are on the rise, with dozens killed in racially motivated attacks so far this year.
Russia's political leaders have been promising to confront xenophobia, but those living with the fear of attack say words are yet to turn into widespread action in battling the problem. With tens of thousands of Neo Nazi Russians, racist attacks are among the highest in the world.
Now the death of a football fan has sparked the biggest single flare-up of racist violence in Russia for 20 years. Youths chanting racist slogans began rioting and attacking ethnic minorities last weekend.
They were angry at the way police handled the death of a Muscovite football fan who was killed in a fight with migrants from the North Caucasus in early December.
- Thousands of security forces are back on the streets in Moscow, fearing more clashes between hardline nationalist groups and non-slavic minorites.
- So why have racist attacks gone unchecked for so long? What is fuelling the anger? And who are the parties involved?
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