The Moscow-based Sova Center says the level of xenophobia and radical nationalism in Russia remained high last year.
Presenting their 2012 report, Sova’s experts said 19 people were killed and 187 injured in Russia as a result of hate-related attacks last year.
They added that the radical nationalists targeted not only non-Slavic-looking individuals, but also activists opposing racism and representatives of sexual minorities and their supporters.
The experts raised concerns over the fact that police in Russia are mainly focusing on catching ultranationalists and racists expressing their views online, while ignoring violence against ethnic and sexual minorities on the streets.
