vanguard blog | August 31, 2010 | 34 comments

Skinheads Attack Russian Concert

Some 100 Russian skinheads attacked a crowd at a rock concert in Miass, 900 miles east of Moscow on Sunday (August 29), according to media reports, resulting in the death of a teenage girl.

The fourteen-year-old was in a crowd of 3,000 people when the attacks happened at the Tornado rock fest, where nineteen other people were beaten, slashed, and stabbed with iron clubs, axes, and batons, some of which the bare-chested skinheads had grabbed by force from police and security officers on site. Witnesses said some of the men fired guns into the crowd.

Watch a YouTube video that captures some of the attack.

Around fifteen suspects were arrested, but the rest of the attackers fled the scene. Local police refuse to comment, but the lack of response isn't surprising. The day after the attacks, instead of denouncing the violence, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made headlines defending police violence against anti-government protestors.

In 2007, Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel traveled to Russia to document the rising wave of violence by neo-Nazis -- often documented on video and posted online: 

I filmed ultra nationalist politicians preaching hatred to crowds of disenfranchised youth in Moscow, and I interviewed a member of parliament who openly espoused using violence to terrify immigrants from former Soviet territories in the Caucuses and Central Asia.

I also visited a secret, military-style training camp, where we watched neo-Nazis crawl through fire learning to become guerilla fighters. It was there I met the creator of many of the Internet attack videos, who proudly showed me his "propaganda films" of youth gangs setting upon and bashing nonwhites to terrorize the ethnic immigrant community.

Watch the duPont Award-winning Vanguard episode "From Russia With Hate":

  1. groups:
    Culture,   vanguard blog,   Christof Putzel
  2. tags:
    Music,  Human Rights,  Russia,  Violence,  9 more
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34 comments // Skinheads Attack Russian Concert

  • OuterSpace
    • 0
      OuterSpace  

    • i`d like to visit moscow someday but considering those people and the fact that im not white i may think about going there twice

    • 1 year ago
  • Reel_GraphicsUnited
  • Chuck_Berry
    • +1
      Chuck_Berry  

    • What is this world coming to. We are all God's people. It seems like the skin heads have to much on thieir hands. They should be working for prosterity for their country.

    • 1 year ago
  • swrnc
    • +1
      swrnc  

    • This is just a short story of how people can act like caged animals let loose. It's pathetic that this crap goes on. I don't understand why no one stood up and fought back? With all the people there you would think atleast a few people would stand up and do something. It's amazing how a few guys cleared out thousands of people in just a short time... STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

    • 1 year ago
  • FatNerdd
    • 0
      FatNerdd  
    • swrnc:

      Although detestable in hindsight, if you were in their situation and a group of 10 organized Neo-Nazis suddenly surrounded and started beating the hell out of someone next to you without warning, what would be your immediate reaction?

    • 1 year ago
  • swrnc
    • +2
      swrnc  
    • FatNerdd:

      Turn around, grab one of the IDIOTS and FIGHT BACK... Thats whats wrong with the world today.. Everyone turns their back on TROUBLE. Run like scared pussys. Or better yet, "THEY DON"T WANT TO GET INVOLVED". Maybe if there was a little bit of "Im Your Brother-Lean On Me" in the world, this kinda CRAP wouldn't be going on.. I say it's societys fault for being ignorant and blind to the situation. People are like ants--they follow the leader to much and don't make a stand for them selves....... Thats MY ANSWER

    • 1 year ago
  • FatNerdd
    • 0
      FatNerdd  
    • swrnc:

      Really? You're telling me that if TEN organized and combat-trained skin heads started beating up and potentially stabbing someone in your vicinity out of the blue, you would personally grab one and try and take them all on?

      Noble in words, but action is an entirely different result. I respect your ideals, but in practice, people immediately react in the interest of self preservation, it's not just human nature, it's primal hard-wiring in our brain's evolution.

    • 1 year ago
  • swrnc
    • 0
      swrnc  
    • FatNerdd:

      THATS BULLSHIT.. Ten guys come in clearing out thousands of people??? All I can say is --A BUNCH OF PUSSYS. All it takes is a "LEADER" and others will follow, as you see in this video.. One guy runs, they all run, like chickens in a pen. And anyway, how do you know Im not combat trained. How do you know me at all? but besides on this chat line.. You don't! I will say it again-----FUCK THEM GUYS---I would stand up for myself.

    • 1 year ago
  • patrickexe
    • +1
      patrickexe  

    • There are four colors on this planet in which of one - we all as humans, fit into. They are Black, White, Yellow, Red. (A flag I long to see). There is a greater strength for survival and a healthier preserverance for all... in the form of UNITY. Yes, It is true that it takes more strength, courage and wisdom - to be kind!!!!!!! Hate, blame and fists are simply the result of the fully unaware and lazy.

      There are larger forces/groups in all countries, and are also surprisingly small in contrast to the countless their discissions affect. THEY are the breeders and feeders of disturbing times (then and now). The youth in all societies have the resposibility to protect, guard and secure our elders, our children and our planet(period). It is from those generations and earth that we grow and succeed from. Over reaching governments and rogue parties are the focus in defence - not individuals of color who are also just victims.

      It saddens me too to see the large-scale mess our world is in. I have far too much to comment on re: this and more. I will, however, address one comment made earlier - by MAHADEVI.

      My friend, your child and countless other children are well voiced for (prayed for - if you will). They are all special and well prepared. Embracing their expressions and assisting in their passions with the love and guidence that only an aware parent can... is all that is asked of us.

      Take great care of yourselves.

      Live fully - Love well

    • 1 year ago
  • resnichka
  • MotherForTruth
  • mahadevi
  • Sheeva
  • Sheeva
    • 0
      Sheeva  

    • This is nothing more than a bunch of punks banding together! These are cowards afraid of change. Anyone willing to join a group that's beating on others because they are different is just that... a punk.

    • 1 year ago
  • FatNerdd
  • eaglesfn345
    • 0
      eaglesfn345  

    • @pandaman2105 - you'd be much better off visiting Poland, the Czech Republic, or one of the Baltic states like Lithuania if you're interested in Eastern European culture. If anything, you'd be doing these young democratic states a favor by investing your tourist money with them rather then in wretched "Mother Russia". You'll get a much nicer welcome in Prague, Krakow, or Vilnius, and if you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, then go to the land of my ancestors: Slovakia!

    • 1 year ago
  • MotherForTruth
  • HiImGuss
  • pandaman2105
    • 0
      pandaman2105  

    • I have an issue with Russia. long before this happened. somewhat because of this stuff and other fatalistic perspectives I've read about that Russians have. then look at the joyful and uplifting themes common to the literature. haha

      but when I first came across this episode of Vanguard, I was shocked. I wasn't aware of Current when it first aired, but I later saw it here.

      Does anyone else get the vibe that anyone of color, tourist or not, is completely unwelcome with this neo-uprising of hate groups? The language or culture is appealing to me, but socio-politically and historically I've always been turned off by the country. and after this episode of Vanguard, would I really be safe and free to enjoy myself if I went there for a visit?

    • 1 year ago
  • Sdizzle
  • FatNerdd
  • milo_kodiak
    • +2
      milo_kodiak  
    • FatNerdd:

      The skinhead movement began in the 1960's as a multi-racial expression of working class pride. The short hair and steel toed boots came form factory workers. It doesn't matter if they have never done anything to your benefit, many people who still identify with the skinhead image today don't like being equated with the violence and racism with which it has become synominous.
      That's all.

    • 1 year ago
  • Haruki_Hirasawa
  • MotherForTruth
  • Sheeva
  • MotherForTruth
  • FatNerdd
    • 0
      FatNerdd  
    • MotherForTruth:

      It's people like you that truly sicken me, opting to take the easy route of scapegoating and blanketing an entire people based on misconception. You are no better than these skinheads and the appalling acts that they perpetrate. You claim to be a "MotherForTruth" yet you place belief in sweeping generalizations? YOU are the problem.

    • 1 year ago
  • MotherForTruth
    • 0
      MotherForTruth  
    • FatNerdd:

      FatNerdd, Grow up and face the truth, American ignorance is flourishing. Homelessness, innocent are prosecuted and sent to private prisons, most of the Americans can not afford medical care, education is one of the lowest quality amongst progressive countries, America sends our young men to die at war in a foreign land. And since you are such good doer, what have you done about these lately?

    • 1 year ago
  • UrbanGypsy
    • +8
      UrbanGypsy  

    • How ironic that this type of movement has taken hold among some people in Russia. How many millions of Russians died at the hands of the Nazis? All for these people to do what they are doing today?

    • 1 year ago
  • UWAZell
  • gerritbrooks
    • +2
      gerritbrooks  

    • It's amazing that these kids don't realize their fathers and grandfathers fought against this kind of intolerance. I mean come on!!!

    • 1 year ago
  • Sexirobot
    • +3
      Sexirobot  
    • gerritbrooks:

      Actually, the Russians and Nazis were allies during the opening stages of the war( they were such good allies that Russia got a piece of Poland...see Katyn massacre ) and the only reason Stalin had a change of heart was because Hitler betrayed their pact and invaded Russia. Having had an extensive history of ethnic cleansing in their country, the red army wasn't fighting against intolerance... they were defending mother Russia.

    • 1 year ago
shana

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