"Law and Security", the journal

Issue 1 (10), March 2004

Problems of Counteracting Challenges of Religious Extremism in the Russian Federation

V.Y.Zorin, Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Political Sciences

Russia was historically formed as multinational and multi-faith state. It is clearly proved by the results of the All-Russia population census in 2002. By the beginning of the 2004 year people of 160 nationalities are living in Russia; 23 nations of more of 400 thousand persons make more than 96 % of the population.

In the opinion of Russian and international experts, on the background of stable economic development in Russia the potential of political conflicts has decreased, but mass displays of xenofobia have grown. Growing of the number of various extremist organizations using ethnopolitical and confessional rhetoric as means of political mobilization is also clearly seen.

The society can hardly remain away from such challenge in the modern Russia as counteraction to extremism which substantially displays in latent and veiled forms1. Historical experience shows that one of the forms of political extremism is religious radicalism.

It is essentially necessary to put right the accents in this sphere first of all by way of organization, or forming of early-warning system. Such attempt was realized, as it is known, by adoption of the Law "About counteraction to extremist activity".

Undoubtedly, appealing to confessional sphere, it is necessary to accent special attention to suppression of racial and religious discord. Thus, application of the above named law in the society should not be thoughtless, i.e. setting the only task of cancellation on kindling national discords, but the one not only serving for definition of the degree of punishment, but also promoting formation of valuable orienting points in the society, formation of tolerable relations between peoples, achievement of civil consent.

Application of only educational forms of activity from the part of religions themselves or only administrative instruments will be not so significant. In this case it is important that these efforts were effective from the part of the communities themselves.

It is necessary to point out that in the society some kind of dual situation arises, for instance, in connection with adoption and realization of state target program "Formation of tolerable consciousness and prevention of extremism in the Russian society". In our opinion, the problem in whole is not solved if the main task - formation of the culture of interethnic dialogue is not solved first of all.

One may argue about tolerant ideology, however, joint residing of various nationalities, for example, Russians and Russian Germans in conditions when rendering assistance to the ones and absence of assistance to the others will crush any efforts for achievement of such tolerance. Therefore, the main thing, including in the sphere of confessional relations, should be the principle of equal rights, creation of equal life conditions, opportunities of employment, education, etc.

In one word, in the society social and cultural mechanisms of tolerant norms are not developed yet. It fully concerns the confessional sphere, though, undoubtedly, search of consensus in relations of religious organizations becomes continuous process.

Modern social and political conditions in the Russian Federation in consideration of global geopolitical changes of the last time are characterized by expansion of the scales of threats of national safety.

Growth, acuteness and variety of extremist demonstrations in economic, spiritual, culture and moral, religious and other spheres of life and activity of the society render destabilizing influence to internal political conditions in the country, undermine the international authority of Russia.

Special role in neutralization of the reasons and conditions promoting occurrence of political and religious extremism, separatism, and elimination of their consequences should be played by the bodies of state power with active interaction with various public institutes.

The tendency of increase of the extremism under religious banners in many respects is caused by existing contradictions in mutual relations both between religions and inside them, energization of activity of some foreign religious organizations whose practical activities have obviously expressed destructive character. In our opinion, concern is caused by their attempts aimed at bringing dissent into traditional Russian religious associations (Orthodox, Muslim, Judaic and other communities).

Religious expansion into the territory of Russia from the part of other states has resulted in significant growth of new religious movements. The number of confessional directions registered in the Russian Federation has increased for the decade from 20 to 90. In 1992 there were 4846 religious organizations, yet in the beginning of the 21st century their number increased to more than 20 thousand. According to the various sociological centers, believers make from 43 to 57 % of the population. Among them the number of men and young people is growing. Among believers 91,4 % have secondary and higher education.

Intensive growth of new religious formations the ethnic-confessional balance in the country, causes increase of inter-confessional rivalries and discontent of the basic part of the population.

Obviously, the task of regulation of effective counteraction to extremism under religious banners in the Russian Federation is hardly may be solved without taking into account external factors directly or indirectly promoting distribution of this dangerous phenomenon, development and realization of the complex system of measures aimed to put a reliable barrier to this.

In these conditions enforcement authorities are not always correctly building the relations with religious organizations and quite often they retreat from the new problems without providing observance of legality, do not regulate interaction in solving the main problems.

Naturally, the necessity to solve the question of working out the Concept of state-confessional relations arises. Such document should would reflect all the changes taken place in the religious world for the last years, plan the ways of improvement of the Law of the Russian Federation "About freedom of conscience and about religious associations", establish and consolidate the rights not only of the persons believing but of world-outlook neutral believers making significant part of the population of Russia.

Certainly, such document should be based mainly on priority directions of relations between the state and church in national policy of the Russian Federation:

  • preservation of stability of constitutional regime, institutes of the government;
  • maintenance of civil world and public consent, territorial integrity, unity of legal space, law and order;
  • neutralizations of the reasons and conditions promoting arising of conflicts on religious grounds.

The dominant in the relations between state and church should be joining the efforts for stabilization of situation in the society, protection of peace and civil consent, settlement of social problems.

Having collided in the last years with the phenomenon of mass distribution of new religious movements, the European countries began to conduct more rigid line in relation to them. Such decision of the question is in full conformity with the resolution of the European Parliament of 12.02.96 "Resolution about sects in Europe", calling the governments of the countries - members "not to give the status of religious organization automatically. And in cases when such sects are involved into wrongful or criminal actions, should be considered deprivation of their status of religious association which guarantees them tax privileges and definite legal protection". Recommendation No. 1412 of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe of 22.06.99 "Unlawful activity of sects" contains the appeal to the governments of the states - members "to use normal procedures of criminal and civil law against unlawful practice which is carried out on behalf of religious or spiritual character groups".

In 2001 under the initiative of Russia within the framework of OSCE the working group for the questions of tolerance was formed. Besides, presently the consultations regarding the matter of attraction Russia to realization of the so-called Program of the interested structures of the United Nations within the framework of which the matters of development of international cooperation in the field of tolerance are paid great attention.

Important value in the context of strengthening external contacts of the Russian Orthodox Church has the decision of its Holiest Synod aimed at transformation of constant delegation of the Moscow Patriarchy at the European Union into the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchy at the European international organizations in Brussels.

Without belittling the value of the work conducted in the Russian Federation, at the same time it is necessary to note that it requires definite reconsideration, ordering and systematization. In whole in the efforts for counteraction to extremism under religious banners, as it is introduced, it is necessary to base on our common approach to the problem of new threats and challenges demanding jointing the efforts of all the world community.

Approach to the given problem displayed by the democratic European countries should serve as the orienting point for the Russian Federation.

Sometimes rather problematic character has the activity in the Russian Federation performed by different sort of branches of foreign religious, charitable and other organizations which formally does not contradict positions of the Russian legislation, and in practice quite often promotes occurrence of intensity on religious ground.

Disrespectful attitude to Russian traditional religions promotes formation of preconditions for extremism of religious character including at day-to-day level, excitation of religious dissent and antisocial actions on religious motives, influences the condition of intergovernmental relations.

In the Russian Federation Islam is also one of traditional religions. According to the experts, in the Russian Federation live 14-15 million people of Muslim culture. Due to migration this number may increase. For the Russian Federation precise orientation of cooperation of the government with all religions, including Islam, is important.

Analyzing the role and place of religious extremism in formation of internal and external threats to the national safety and territorial integrity of Russia, it is necessary to note that extremism under Islamic banners in international scale here turns to be a real political and military force.

Specificity of its threats, in our opinion, determines the basic directions of strengthening and perfection of the nation-wide system of safety control, including protection of the bases of constitutional structure in Russia. Analysis of modern condition of threats to the constitutional system of the Russian Federation shows that they have complex character, infringing vital interests of person, society and state.

Appropriate state bodies take various measures of operative and long-term character for counteraction to Islamic extremism.

Negative influence to the Russian Moslems is rendered by aggravating contradictions between heads of the largest religious spiritual administrations of Moslems.

Analysis of activity of foreign Islamic extremist centers testifies that their plans concerning the Russian Federation include opposition of the interests of the Russian Moslems to the interests of the state and society, inducement of political elite of the regions with prevailing Muslim population to formation of conditions for secession from the Russian Federation and formation of new states focused on the countries of Islamic world. Leaders of some nationalistic and separative movements bringing destabilizing elements into political situation in some regions of the country try to play Islamic factor, especially in Northern Caucasus, forcing peoples to the world outlook and religious choice not appropriate to them.

Most serious consequences of expansion of Islamic extremism were shown in the Northern Caucasus where complex political, social and economic, national, confessional and criminal problems got mixed up.

Growth of extremism on the background of aggravated social and economic problems is promoted by attempts from the part of some foreign Islamic organizations to intensify distribution in the territory of Russia of radical forms of Islamic ideology, including by means of financing activity of extremist groupings.

Spiritual administrations of Moslems, mostly fragmented, are usually not able to effectively resist to organized extremism under the banners of Islam. In some cases they get in material and other dependence and turn into conductors of the interests of the ones who pay.

Special danger cause the attempts of the extremists to expand their social base at the expense of the youth. In these purposes foreign emissaries use their efforts to form in the Russian Federation their personnel reserve, organize sending young Russian citizens for training to foreign Islamic centers.

According to the experts, now more than 4 thousand Russian citizens are trained in Islamic educational institutions in Algeria, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Tunis, Pakistan, Malaysia and other countries of Arabian world.

Majority of Russians training there, after passing the training in the spirits alien to the Russian Islam, after returning serve as conductors of Islamic extremism and radicalism.

Serious threat to the national safety of the country represent the attempts to impose to the Russian society the idea of civilizations conflict and ostensibly unsoluble contradictions between the Christians and Moslems2.

Besides, one of the global consequences of the events of September 11, 2001 became the all-world growth of Islamofobia which is increased by some mass media. Neither Islam as a religion, nor Moslems as a faith group should or must bear responsibility for such actions.

In the matter of extremism under Islamic slogans, we, probably, should recognize that it is a long-term factor in the world politics, and it is hardly possible to overcome it and also the terrorist threat connected with it in foreseeable future.

Therefore, it is necessary to build the line so that, being in the frameworks of the international efforts for overcoming of "Islamic extremism" (this formula will be used as conditional term), to elimination of its root reasons, not to allow transformation of the Russian Federation into the main target of terrorism under the Islamic flag. Well thought line of the Russian Federation should answer precise observance of the principles of the UN Charter at realization of enforcement actions in the context of counteraction to the international terrorism and extremism.

In this connection, public and religious institutes and mass-media in priority order should distribute and propagandize historical experience of good-neighborly coexistence in multinational Russia by followers of various cultures and religions, the fact of deep difference between vahhabism and traditional Russian Islam.

Positive role in this plan should be played by the Federal Program of "Formation of tolerable consciousness and prevention of extremism in the Russian society (2001-05)", and also adoption of the Federal Act "About counteraction to extremist activity" and "About modifications and additions in realization of the Federal program in connection with adoption of the Federal Act "About counteraction to extremist activity", legislative acts of the subjects of the Russian Federation for counteraction to extremism, including on religious basis.

However, definite positive effect in the course of their realization appears inadequate to the acuteness of the problems connected with demonstrations of extremism under religious banners. As practice shows, integrated approach to realization of counteraction to extremism is required at which not only regulating and prohibitive measures would be provided but also the measures of preventive character. Definite place in the work for prevention of such dangerous social-political phenomenon as extremism, should be occupied by public institutes and religious associations.

In consideration of developing conditions on the question of counteraction to demonstrations of extremism the Federal Act "About freedom of consciousness and about religious associations" was adopted on 26.09.97.

By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 10.01.00 was approved the Concept of national safety of the Russian Federation. The Federal Act No. 114-FZ "About counteraction to extremist activity" was adopted.

In 2000-02 State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation performed in all Offices of Public Prosecutor, bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Federal Security Service, State Customs Committee and the Ministry of Press of Russia check-ups of the Decree # 310 and the legislation aimed at struggle against demonstrations of fascism and other forms of political extremism. Results of such checks were considered at the sessions of the boards or coordination meetings.

On July 10, 2002 in the State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation the Coordination meeting of heads of law enforcement bodies of the Russian Federation took place, at the meeting were planned the main efforts for overcoming departmental dissociation, elimination of negative factors and blanks in activity of law enforcement bodies. Interdepartmental group for execution of the legislation aimed at struggle against demonstrations of fascism and political extremism was formed. At the meeting of October 4, 2002 were discussed and planned the measures for strengthening counteraction to political and religious extremism.

Crimes chronicle

The Moscow city court has passed the conviction of the case of murder, having recognized that the crime has been committed with "the motive of national hatred". Three teenagers - skinheads were convicted for brutal crime committed in March 2002 against 22-years old Armenian. Tushinski inter-district court has passed the conviction against the gang of skinheads, who in the fall of 2001 arranged the anti-Caucasian massacre in Mitino district. Gagarinski intermunicipal court completed the proceedings under the claim to the newspaper "Duel" in connection with publication of the article "War veterans - assault groups of Jewish racists". In this article war veterans were named the persons supporting Jewish racists, and being their assault groups and due to this the Jewish fascism blossoms in Russia. This data was recognized by the court not true. The court obliged the newspaper "Duel" to exclude such phrases from all materials of the newspaper.

In Novosibirsk the criminal case about kindling interethnic enmity is passed to the court. On October 7 began the proceedings of 11 participants of skinhead grouping arrested by militia in the end of 2002. Teenagers, armed with knifes, attacked citizens of Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan in vicinities of one of the local markets. The vendors were beaten, plundered and told to leave from the region. In 2 cases heavy physical injuries entailed death of the victims. High-ranking officials of the embassy of Uzbekistan arrived to the proceedings process with the purpose of receiving the information about the course of the investigation. Skinheads from Novosibirsk did not shave their heads, however, they wore uniforms with symbolics in the form of the fist. Their main slogan was "to clear Novosibirsk region from non-Russians". At their searches the books by Hitler were found. Schools from 16 to 20 y.o. were members of the grouping.

In Volgograd was opened the proceedings against the teenagers charged with murder of 3 citizens of Tadjikistan and Uzbekistan.

The Novgorod regional court started consideration of criminal case of the editor and founder of the newspaper "Russian Veche" P. Ivanov accused in excitation of ethnic animosity.

The Office of Public Prosecutor of Saint Petersburg indicted the leader of extremist neo-nazi organization "Schultz-88" D. Bobrov. For the first time in the practice of domestic jurisprudence accusation is presented on the basis of article 282, item 1, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist group), article 280 (public appeals to realization of extremist activity). According to the data of UBOP (department of struggle with organized criminality), the organization "Schultz-88" was founded in 2001. Then 24-years old D. Bobrov gathered about 10 teenagers under the idea of struggle against Jews, natives of Caucasus and Africa. During the search in the apartment of one of the extremists militiamen found packs of leaflets and posters with nazi symbolics and also brochures "Anger of Perun ", "Paganism as spiritual and moral basis of the Russian national socialism".

On October 14, 2003 the officers of the Moscow criminal investigation department detained 16-year old young man having committed murders in the Central district of the capital. The nickname of the detained is "fascist", on the left of his breast swastika was tattooed. He has already confessed to 2 murders. In July, 2003 using a knife he killed a man whose identity isn't established till present, in September he hammered to death a beggar. His possible participation in other murders is being checked.

A number of politicians of Kaliningrad region, including the Governor, in July 2003 received antiSemitic letters. Their authors put forward the ultimatum - till September, 2003 to resign voluntarily. Further in the letters there were threats: "Otherwise division "A" of "Orthodox military brotherhood" will de ordered to kill the persons of Jewish nationality and their accomplices". As to local observers, since spring 2001 it is the fifth wave of anti-Semitism in the region.

In the markets and streets of the town of Kondopoga (Republic of Karelia) for several days the people of "non-Slavic appearance" were attacked. The Chairman of Spiritual administration of Moslems of Karelia, the Mayor of Kondopoga, divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Federal Security Service were called to settle the situation. Spiritual administration of Moslems of Karelia decided to send complaints to various ministries and departments, including the President of the Russian Federation, and also to perform near the building of the Government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karelia the picket demanding performance of direct duties for protection of citizens.

Remedial organizations of Nizhniy Novgorod and organizations of national communities sent the open letter to the first persons of Nizhniy Novgorod region and city. Remedial organizations expressed extreme concern for the cases of skinheads attacks to representatives of various nationalities that had become frequent in Nizhni Novgorod and demanded urgent liquidation of militant groupings.

Under the statement of plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Southern federal district, the number of acts of terrorism in the South of Russia in 2003, despite the security measures taken, not decreased but increased. 225 persons were killed.

In the operative reports about the acts of terrorism, in the second half of 2003 Ingushetia and Dagestan began to be mentioned as frequently as the Chechen Republic. On September 3, 2003, when the train in Essentuki was blown up, in the territory of Ingushetia 3 persons suspected in preparation of the acts of terrorism were detained. This very day the building of republican Federal Security Service was shelled from grenade launcher. On September 15 the same building was blown up. Murders of 2 politicians of Dagestan: ex-deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation N. Khachilaeva and the Minister of nationalities M.S.-M. Gusaev were committed in broad daylight in the center of Makhachkala. For the short period of time 10 militiamen were killed, mainly working for the structures counteracting terrorism and organized crime. Some tens of armed insurgents penetrated from the Chechen border to the territory of Tsuntinski district of Dagestan.

Two acts of terrorism on the railway in Stavropol region (on September 3 and December 5, 2003) resulted in numerous victims among population. On August 25, 2003 in Prikubanski, Western and Karasunski administrative districts of Krasnodar with the interval 2-3 minutes the bombs exploded on the stations of public transport. In the result of explosions 3 persons were killed, 17 wounded. This list may be continued.

The situation in territory of the country can be seen in the data of monitoring conducted by independent experts and mass-media. The litigations taken place simultaneously in the second half of 2003 allow to assert that the mechanism of counteraction to extremist activity and to kindling interethnic dissents was started in Russia.

According to the State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, under the facts of national, racial and religious hostility (article 282 of the criminal Code of the Russian Federation) the following number of criminal cases were instituted: in 1998 - 25 cases, in 1999 - 44 cases, in 2000 - 37 cases, in 2001 - 39 cases; the number of cases submitted to courts for consideration: in 1998 - 5 cases, in 1999 - 9 cases, in 2000 - 6 cases, in 2001 - 5 cases. In 2002 49 criminal cases were investigated, 12 cases were submitted to courts (3 of them 3 are already considered).

Activity of religious associations failed to pass state registration but continue to act as religious groups was also traced. They include: groups of satanists, "New Age", Rerikh followers, Vissarion followers, "White Brotherhood" "Aum Sinrikyo".

In the result of the check of public organization "Khabarovsk regional humanitarian center "Dianetics" was revealed realization by the organization of medical and educational activity without obtaining appropriate sanction (license). Materials of the check were submitted to the Office of Public Prosecutor of Khabarovsk region for taking the measures of public prosecutor's reaction. The Office of Public Prosecutor of Khabarovsk region under items 1 and 3 of article 44 of the Federal Act "About public associations" the statement of claim for liquidations of the organization was sent. Khabarovsk regional court on 30.09.02 took the decision of liquidation of the this organization. Head of public organization "Khabarovsk humanitarian center "Dianetics" O.B. Uhova was recognized guilty of the crimes stipulated by item 1 of article 171, item 3 of article 174, article 69 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and was sentenced to imprisonment for 6 years without property confiscation with trial period of 3 years.

The materials concerning Khabarovsk regional branch of "Association of sacred spirit for integration of world christianity - the Church of Association" are sent to court for liquidation of the organization for failing to pass re-registration.

Khabarovsk regional public association "The Way of Bliss" (Ananda Marga) is expelled from the uniform state register of legal persons on the basis of the decision of the Central regional court of Khabarovsk recognizing its registration invalid and definition of judicial board for civil cases of Khabarovsk regional court.

In Magadan the Christian charismatic church "The Word of Life" (chief - N.P. Voskobojnikov) actively operates, having involved a significant number of employees of official bodies (Magadan regional department of Goskomstat, Administration of feldeger service), and also created a number of own commercial structures and own security service. This organization has extensive connections in the USA and Canada, constantly bases on support of remedial organizations.

The work for revealing and suppression of activity of various sort of totalitarian sects and destructing organizations is carried out in the territory of the Russian Federation. The Office of Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Komi has revealed a number of violations of the law " About freedom of consciousness and religious associations" in activity of the sect "Jehovah's Witnesses". Under the results of the check the chief of Pechora branch of the sect was convicted to administrative responsibility, regional supervisors of the sect - citizens of Germany spouses Baldowsky - were prohibited entrance to Russia for the period of 5 years.

In opinion of the Ministry of press, TV and radio (MPTR) of Russia, the primary task of mass-media is in public discussion of demonstrations and nature of religious extremism as a version of extremism. At the MPTR for more than 2 years the Public methodical council for illumination of religious themes in mass-media acts. The Council has worked out and distributed recommendations to the journalists writing about religion, containing the principles of socially responsible religious journalism.

Concerning brief analysis of confessions the following may be pointed out. In the middle of February 2002 in Ufa took place the plenum of the Central spiritual administration of Moslems of Russia, at the plenum were discussed the topics of opposition to terrorism, religious extremism and vahhabism penetrating to the regions of the country, and also the matters of professional training of traditional clergy, necessity of creation of Coordination Council of Spiritual administration of Moslems of CIS countries or the Council of Muftis of CIS countries CIS for association of the efforts.

Taking into account the above, it would be expedient to determine the problems which the state and confessional institutes face in counteraction to demonstrations of extremism.

The following significant positions may be ranked:

  • to establish the responsibility of centralized religious organization for illegal activity of its local religious organizations;
  • to legislatively prohibit in activity of religious communities the methods of hypnotic impact to people or application of drugs and pharmacological preparations;
  • to develop the uniform (written) form of consent by parents and guardians for participation of minors in activity of religious organizations;
  • to provide obligatory notification of local authorities about creation of religious group;
  • to provide as one of the bases of liquidation of religious association compulsion of its members, followers or other persons to alienation of property belonging to them for the benefit of heads or other members of religious association, and also for the benefit of other persons;
  • to create the interdepartmental databank of various sorts of demonstrations of political and religious extremism.
  • considering the opinion of the leaders of traditional religions of the country to consider the matter of formation of the body in charge of the problems of relations between the state and religions, or carrying out monitoring of confessional situation in the country.
  • to create at the representatives of the President of the Russian Federation in the federal districts the consultative bodies for the matters of state-religion relations with direct participation in their activity of representatives of public and religious associations;
  • to promote overcoming of dissociation and national orientation of Muslim clergy, to achieve association of efforts of clergy in struggle against religious extremism. To promote creation of coordination council which should include the muftis of the Russian Federation;
  • to carry out the set of measures for disclosing the ideology of religious extremism. To develop the program assisting creation of positive image of Moslems and Islam in Russia. Public and religious institutes, mass-media means, should in priority order distribute and propagandize historical experience of good-neighbor coexistence of followers of various cultures and religions in multinational Russia. Deep distinction between vahhabism and traditional Russian Islam should be explained;
  • to develop and realize in interaction with religious associations the system of official measures of supporting religious education in the Russian Federation, aimed at improvement of educational process organization, maintenance of its conformity with the state educational standards, training the teaching personnel in secular disciplines;
  • to intensify various levels dialogue with foreign states, including former Soviet republics of Central Asia, in the questions of counteraction to distribution of religious extremism with the purpose of exchange of experience, search of effective decisions, and in the number of aspects definition of variants of joint actions.

Realization of the named measures, will certainly make the dialogue between the state and religions more precise and purposeful, aimed at preservation of integrity of Russia, maintenance of its safety, solving one of the most important issues of our time - formation of culture of interethnic dialogue in the society, achievement high authority of Russia as democratic and lawful state at the international level.

Zorin Vladimir Jurjevich. In 1995-96 - deputy, then first deputy head of territorial directorate of Federal enforcement authorities in the Chechen Republic. In 1995 is elected the deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, in 1996-99 - Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma for national affairs, member of the State Commission of the Russian Federation for settlement of crisis in the Chechen Republic and the problems of Northern Caucasus. Member of inter-parliamentary assembly of OSCE. In 2000-01 - assistant to the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in Privolzhski Federal District. From 2001 - Minister for the Russian Federation. Candidate of historical sciences, Doctor of political sciences, member of the International Academy of information at the United Nations.

1. For example, see: Zorin V.Ju. " Russian Federation: problems of ethnocultural policy formation. М., 2002; Zorin V.Ju. Personality is the Maximum Value. М., 2003; Ethnoconfessional dialogue: condition, contradictions, prospects for development. Orenburg, 2002; Materials of the All-Russia meeting "About realization of the Concept of state national policy of the Russian Federation". April 18, 2003. Moscow, 2003, etc.

2. See, for example, Huntington S.P. The Clars of Civilization and order. N.Y. 1996. page 368. In 1997 the publishing house "Avenarius" published full translation of the book into Russian.

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