INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN ODESSA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.07.2009 17:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Considering Odessa as an "island for ideal
interethnic relations" is a myth. That was one of the statements
made at a press conference at the Odessa branch of the Institute
of Management issues of Gorshenin. A recently conducted survey
"Interethnic Relations in the eyes of Odessa’s inhabitants" was
presented at the conference. 600 18-year-old citizens were interviewed
for the survey.
Most respondents (59.5 per cent) claim that they equally treat all
nationalities. However, over a third (37 per cent) of respondents
admitted that representatives of certain nations cause their hostility
and anger.
According to authors of the study, Odessa residents are more tolerant
than those of Dnepropetrovsk: only 27.8 per cent of interviewed told
that representatives of other nations do not cause their hostility.
Odessa law enforcers fuel inter-ethnic strife, labeling criminals in
public reports as "persons of Caucasian nationality", Andrei Yusov,
head of family and youth in Odessa City Council said.
According to the expert of the IAC Analitika.at.ua David Davtyan,
dissemination of such information is amoral and does not meet
democratic standards.
According to Andrey Yusov, law enforcers, calling the nationality
of the perpetrator, contribute to the development of inter-ethnic
animosity. Crime has no nationality and it must be fought, not
separated by nationality, the official said.
Andrei Yusov described as firebrands the representatives of "Russian
chauvinism": "Dozor" (Watch), "Slavyanskoe edinstvo"(Slavic unity)
and "Bratstvo" (Brotherhood) organizations. "These organizations are
harsh, marginal and poor," Andrey Yusov said, Analitika.at.ua writes.