In Some Parts of Russia, Fewer than Half of Residents Rate Inter-Ethnic Relations as Good, Magomedov Says

Paul Goble

    Staunton, Apr. 14 – For years, Moscow has declared that three-quarters or even a greater share of Russian residents rate inter-ethnic relations as good, but Magomedsalam Magomedov, deputy head of the Presidential Administration, says that in some part of the country, fewer than half of the residents share that view.

    He also told a meeting of the leadership of the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs that the percentage of residents who expect the appearance of serious conflicts on an ethnic basis is high overall – 30.7 percent – is higher still in many regions and continues to grow  (fedpress.ru/news/77/policy/3374886).

    The highest levels of such concern are found, Magomedov continued, in Tyva, Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Sevastopol, Kamchatka Kray, Primorsky Kray, and the republic of Sakha and Dagestan, an indication that all is not well with regard to inter-ethnic relations in Russia despite Moscow’s claims to the contrary.

    At least some of these figures come from special polls conducted on order of the Presidential Administration and the Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs. Magomedov’s decision to go public with them highlights the Kremlin’s growing concern about this situation and the need to do something about it before things explode.