Police have opened a check into a series of four ultranationalist videos showing masked men beating up and attacking with mace homeless people and Asian nationals to soundtracks from cartoons and pop songs, Gazeta.ru said Thursday.
The videos, posted on the nationalist web site ns-wp.ws, are credited to a group called Sparrow's Crew, which claims to "unite positive people" and take up "good old jolly violence for violence's sake."
The group is likely one of the first in Russia to take up the new movement within ultranationalism known by the self-explanatory title People Haters that targets even fellow nationals who do not fit the radicals' standards, Gazeta.ru said.
A nationalist video showing a Tajik and a Dagestani beheaded on camera caused a big scandal in 2007, but the murders were never solved.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.