Greece:
New findings reveal that there were 87 incindences of violence against immigrants and refugees, 83 of these taking place in public spaces during the time period January-September 2012
Washington Post: Greek Parliament lifts immunity of 3 far-right lawmakers. ‘Greek Parliament has voted unanimously to lift the immunity from prosecution of three lawmakers from the extremist far-right Golden Dawn party. Two of the deputies, Panagiotis Iliopoulos and Giorgos Germenis, have been accused of participating in attacks against immigrant street vendors. They face charges of impersonating authorities and property damage. The third, Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris, faces charges of robbery and causing bodily harm from a 2007 incident.’
BBC News: Greek police accused over racism and asylum rights. ‘MP Ilias Panagiotaros claimed Greece was “in civil war” and indeed advocated a new kind of civil war, pitting the far-right against migrants, anarchists, etc. Now three new reports cast light on the substance of our story – which was: alleged police torture of anti-fascist detainees, Golden Dawn’s influence inside the Greek police force, and its potential influence on the operational behaviour and priorities of the police in the Attica region around Athens.’
International Business Times: Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn MPs who beat migrants to face prosecution. ‘Lawmakers Panagiotis Iliopoulos and Giorgos Germenis have been accused of taking part in attacks against immigrant street vendors in Rafina last month and face charges of impersonating authorities and property damage.’
Comment – New Statesman: Desperate to keep the police on side, is the Greek government overlooking violent abuses? ‘By carefully avoiding answering any and all questions, Dendias only looked anxious for two things: To not allow Tsoukalas to sidetrack him from his immigrant-bashing agenda , and to not displease the very same police force that stood by while a man was attacked outside a theatre, and , according to the Guardian, allegedly tortured 15 detainees after an anti-fascist demonstration a few weeks ago.’
Hungary:
Reuters: Insight – Hungary’s far-right party gains as it targets Roma. ‘Decades of animosity between Hungarians and ethnic Roma in this small town in western Hungary had attracted little attention until the far-right Jobbik party saw an opportunity to score a few political points’
Politics.hu: Roma activists call for government to move against Jobbik-allied groups. ‘The heads of three Roma rights organisations called on Hungary’s government and the authorities to prevent “extreme right organisations and criminals” from disturbing the residents of Hungarian villages and incite hatred.’
JTA: Israeli flag burned in front of Budapest synagogue. ‘An Israeli flag was burned in front of a Budapest synagogue reportedly by members of Jobbik, an ultrarightist Hungarian political party. Tuesday’s incident took place at the Dohany Street Synagogue, in the downtown central part of the Hungarian capital. Jobbik members reportedly were taking part in the day’s events recalling the Hungarian anti-communist revolution in 1956.’
Russia:
Daily Times: Russia kills suspects in Muslim clerics attacks. ‘Russian security forces killed three gunmen suspected of involvement in attacks on senior Muslim leaders in the Tatarstan region, where outbursts of violence have raised fears of a rise of militant Islam, security officials said on Wednesday.’
Der Spiegel: Russia’s War on Gays and Lesbians Intensifies. ‘Obscure conservative groups in Russia have intensified their fight against homosexuality, recently going after the pop-singer Madonna as well as an allegedly offensive milk carton label. The developments underscore a growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country.’
Ukraine:
Euronews: Far-right Party wants exclusive nationality. ‘A far-right movement is likely to enter Ukraine’s parliament in the upcoming elections, polls indicate – for the first time. Yet the “Svoboda” party has historic origins. Its programme is focused on protecting the rights of Ukrainians as a national group, with tough anti-immigrant provisions.’
