student safety in St Petersburg

[Dustin Hosseini]

So typical is this response if someone should question a source - and claim
that they don't like the answer.

No, I am sorry for the fact that you do not understand that I am simply not
satisfied with the positions that have been provided.  I will admit, I am
suspicious of evidence provided by Western organizations of Russia because
they see what happens through a Western lens, which is tainted with ideas
and ideals that do not currently exist in Russia itself.  

It might be strange to put this position forward, but I think that if we as
Westerners only see what happens in Russia through Western eyes, ideals,
values, motivations, etc.,  then we are expecting too much...  Racism exists
in most if not all Western mentalities, but can we say it exists on the same
level in Russian mentality?   

Having said that, I ask that more evidence be presented rather than just
looking at one single (small) group of people from which a blanket statement
is made.  As you have said, certainly not every single person of color is at
risk, but there still is a risk.  There's a risk in the UK, US, Germany, or
even Japan of anything happening based on the color of one's skin, or the
slant of one's accent.   

Why not then survey the Chinese, Filipino, and Caucasian 'minorities' who
live in Russia as well?   There are tons of Asiatic Russians that live all
over Russia, but do we hear of them being discriminated against, beaten, and
spat on as you infer?  What about the so-called 'dark Russians', those from
the southern areas?  

I am sorry, but for you to say that well dressed white people are not
stopped is a general statement that doesn't hold water.  I taught plenty of
students in Moscow who were completely white, yet they were stopped by
police in Moscow for X or Y reason.  Oh, and they were reasonably dressed if
that helps.  

In terms of routine document checks, I think it is safe to say that from
2005 to 2009 there was a steady decline in the number of "routine checks". 
No, I don't have the statistics to back that up, but I have my own
experience that will suffice for now.   


To Olga: Most people are racist to some extent, they just don't want to
admit it.  Yes, that is a broad statement, but I honestly feel that it true
to a certain extent.  Jane Elliott's blue eyes/brown eyes experiment is a
good example of this.   I have also been mistaken for being Georgian,
Mexican, Arab, etc, etc, etc.  And I really hate the general idea among
average Russians that 'all Westerners are Catholics', but all we can do is
change the way Russians think by sending more students abroad to dispel
those stereotypes... 

While we are on the topic of minorities, what about gay rights?  Do you on
this board think that it is right for a British MP, or foreign gay rights
activist, to go to Moscow to try and force gay rights upon the Russians?   


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No one is avoiding the question, but you don't seem to like the answer. 
People of color, Asians and dark-skinned people (who look like they might be 
from the Caucasus) are the targets of hate crimes in Russia. There is plenty 
of evidence of this, including the survey in which black people describe 
their experiences. Certainly not every single person of color, Asian, or 
dark-skinned person who comes to Russia experiences this, but it is a risk.

In addition to this, just about everyone may have problems with the cops, 
although the cops do not stop white people -- particularly well-dressed 
white people -- for "routine document checks" as frequently as they stop 
people of color, Asians and dark-skinned people.

What do you think -- that if you gave the same survey to white foreigners in 
Moscow you'd get the same results? Do you really think that 74.5% of white 
foreigners in Moscow have been verbally attacked in the way the Africans 
have?

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