DUSHANBE, December 12, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Note of protest over brutal killing of Tajik national in the Moscow region was handed over to Vyacheslav Svetlichny, Charge D’Affaires, Russian Embassy in Dushanbe, on December 11.  

A reliable source at the Tajik MFA told Asia-Plus today that the document expresses serious concern over increasing attacks on Tajik labor migrants in Russia.   The MFA stressed that such attacks are frequently taking place on the basis of racism and xenophobia.

According to reports released by various media, Tajikistan has received the bodies of more than 600 of its citizens from Russia since the beginning of this year; more than eighty of them have been killed by ultra-nationalistic groups, the note said, noting that crimes committed against Tajik nationals cannot but cause anger, indignation and negative reaction.  

However, Russian law enforcement authorities show the inertness in responding to becoming more frequent race-hate crimes being committed against Tajik nationals.  

The attention of the Russian side was drawn to the necessity of introducing more strict measures to fight crimes committed against Tajik nationals in Russia.  

According to Tajik MFA, Tajik national, identified as 20-year-old Salohiddin Azizov, was beheaded near the village of Zhabkino in the Moscow region last Saturday between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  This brutal killing was committed by members of so called “Combat Organization of Russian Nationalists”

In the meantime, Russian news agencies say a group of some 10 persons attacked two Tajik men in a town north of Moscow late Friday, at around 11:30 p.m. Reports say the attackers fired shots, wounding one man who escaped.

Interfax reported yesterday that right-wing extremists have claimed responsibility for decapitating Tajik migrant worker.  The Tajik man''s head was discovered in a plastic bag in a rubbish bin in Moscow.  His body had been found on December 6.  A group calling itself the "Combat Organization of Russian Nationalists" claimed responsibility for the attack in an image sent by mobile phone.

According to human rights organizations, incidents of right-wing violence have risen to an historic high of 100 this year.  Human rights organizations have been complaining about increasing extremist violence in Russia for some time.  However, the issue is very rarely discussed openly in Russia, despite calls from the Commonwealth of Independent States, to which both Russia and Tajikistan belong, for a public discussion.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called, in light of the ongoing financial crisis, for a reduction in quotas for foreign workers. Many Russians believe that immigrants take away jobs that could have been held by Russians.

Last year, an internet video in which a Tajik and a Caucasian were killed by masked Russian extremists caused a stir in Russia.  A group calling itself the National Socialist Party of Russia claimed responsibility for the video.

Right-wing groups have announced plans for demonstrations against foreigners in Moscow today.