Russian ultranationalists fuel ethnic and religious tensions inside Russia – ISW

Russian ultranationalists are increasingly sceptical about the capability of the Russian authorities to prevent new terrorist attacks and address ethnic and religious tensions following the 23 June clashes in the Republic of Dagestan, a federal subject of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Russian ultranationalists have widely circulated a story that extremists harassed a Russian doctor in Dagestan who refused to see a patient who had not removed her niqab [a long garment worn by some Muslim women to cover the entire body and face, except for the eyes].

Ultranationalists claim that extremists organised the event to foment further ethnic and religious tensions in Dagestan.

They also believe that Dagestani officials are aware of the identities of extremist ideological leaders but have allowed radical Salafi-Jihadists to dominate entire areas of public life in the republic.

These remarks have led to renewed discussions about banning the niqab in Russia, prompting Alexander Bastrykin, Head of Russia's Investigative Committee, to express indirect support for a ban on the style of dress.

ISW analysts note that some Western and Muslim-majority countries have introduced various laws banning religious and face-covering clothing. The Russian ultra-nationalist debate centred on the niqab is surprising given that there are few Muslims in Russia who wear the niqab.

Quote: "The Russian ultranationalist preoccupation with the niqab appears to be a talking point for ultranationalists to express their perception of an extremist threat emanating from Russia's Muslim-minority communities and to criticise Russian authorities for not doing enough to prevent what ultranationalists consider to be inevitable future terrorist attacks."

More details: Russian ultranationalists are likely to continue expressing their fears of further terrorist attacks in ways which will further fuel ethnic and religious tensions.

ISW continues to assess that Russia's ultranationalist rhetoric is partly alienating minority and Muslim majority communities and generating animosity that Salafi-Jihadi groups can exploit to recruit new members.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 29 June: 

• Two prominent Russian officials appear to be spearheading divergent paths for addressing religious extremism in Russia as ethnic and religious tension in Russia continues to rise.
• Russian ultranationalists continue to express growing doubt in Russian authorities' ability to prevent another terrorist attack and to address ethnic and religious tensions within Russia following the 23 June terrorist attacks in the Republic of Dagestan.
• Ten Ukrainian civilians whom Russian and Belarusian authorities arrested and held in captivity or prison, including individuals detained before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, returned to Ukraine.
• Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Kreminna, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kupiansk, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Donetsk City.
• Some new Russian military personnel are reportedly receiving insufficient training before deploying to Ukraine.

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