Increase in Crimes Against Russians Reported in Britain

Moscow, March 3 – In the UK, the number of crimes against Russians motivated by ethnic hatred is growing, following an investigation by the British TV channel Sky News, which was published on the TV website.

The report indicates that during the investigation, the channel discovered details of dozens of hate crimes committed against Russian citizens in the United Kingdom since February 24, 2022.

Sky News cites information from several regional police departments as confirmation. So, in 2022, Greater Manchester Police recorded 13 crimes against Russians – compared to six in 2021 and two in 2020, and Derbyshire Police – four, including assault causing bodily harm and stalking, although there were no such crimes in 2021 in this region. notice. Police in London also reported crimes against Russians in the counties of Dorset, Kent, Avon, Somerset, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire, the channel reported.

In general, the details of the crimes reported by Sky News are similar in nature and come down to insults and threats motivated by ethnic hatred, however, these crimes were often accompanied by attacks and damage to property.

According to the representative of the charity organization Victim Support Becky Rosenthal, in the first weeks of the special operation of the Russian Federation there was a “wave” of anti-Russian hate crimes in Britain, including in schools, during the year there were also cases of “anti-Ukrainian rhetoric” and attacks On the fault of Russian citizens from other countries.

Mark Walters, professor of criminal law and criminology at the University of Sussex, said, “While I think the numbers will certainly show that there has been an increase… I have no doubt that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg.” The TV channel indicated that the increase in crimes based on hatred towards Russia will continue until the end of the conflict.

Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The President of the Russian Federation described his mission as “protecting people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.” According to the president, the ultimate goal of the operation is the liberation of Donbass and the creation of conditions that guarantee Russia’s security.

Western countries have increased sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation because of Ukraine, in addition, an unprecedented level of fear of Russia has been recorded in a number of foreign countries. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attacks on Russians and Russian-speaking citizens affect students, athletes, and cultural and artistic workers. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that fear of Western Russia is nothing but racism.