Chernov's choice
A local anti-fascist movement marched against neo-Nazi violence this week, marking the ninth day since the death of an anti-fascist in Moscow. Alexei Krylov, who lived in Noginsk, a town near Moscow, was attacked and stabbed by 15 neo-Nazis when he was walking with three other young men and a young woman, to a punk concert at Art Garbage club. Krylov, who was 21, died of multiple knife wounds on the spot. One of the leaflets that anti-fascists gave away to passers-by as they were marching on Nevsky Prospekt on Tuesday was headlined “They Killed Lyosha” and asked for a financial help for Krylov’s family. “Alexei’s family really needs help, he has been survived by his mother and two younger sisters,” the leaflet said. “The family is underprivileged.” A WebMoney account for funds to support Krylov’s family has been listed as R321197368781, while Russian equivalent Yandex.Dengi’s account as 4100164493592. Krylov’s murder was committed in the center of Moscow as he was leaving Kitai-Gorod Metro on March 16. It appears identical to the murder of Timur Kacharava, a local musician and anti-Nazi activist who was stabbed to death in the center of St. Petersburg outside the entrance to Bukvoyed bookstore on Ligovsky Prospekt, opposite Metro Ploshchad Vosstaniya. Kacharava, who was 20, played guitar with his political hardcore punk band Sandinista! and also performed with another punk band, Distress. Meanwhile, 26 marchers detained soon after the march had taken place (of over 150 who took part) began to receive visits by the police on Thursday. The offenses they are charged with are punishable by up to 15 days in custody, but some activists are wary that the charges might be changed under the law on “extremism” introduced under President Vladimir Putin. Activists claim that Russian policemen are themselves frequently “nationalist.” “People are showing indifference toward racist attacks because they think that the police should deal with them,” said a local member of anti-fascist movement in an interview with “Basta,” a recent special issue of newspaper “Chto Delat?” (What to Be Done?). “But the policemen are mostly xenophobic themselves. I was beaten in police precincts many times specifically for being an anti-fascist. Several times when a policeman rolled up his sleeves, there was a swastika there. “An ex-Nazi (or an actual Nazi) and he works in the police!” For the details about Tuesday’s march, see News in this issue. — By Sergey Chernov
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