Ethnic hatred rises in Russia after terrorist attack in Moscow region - NYT.

Following the attack on the "Crocus City Hall" concert hall near Moscow, anti-migrant rhetoric has intensified in Russia. It threatens to escalate into ethnic hatred within Russia.

As Censor.NET informs, The New York Times writes about it

Millions of migrant workers and ethnic minority Russians have faced xenophobia before, but now it has intensified significantly, as the four detainees allegedly involved in the attack are from Tajikistan.

"Migrants are needed as cannon fodder" for the Russian army "and as labour." "And when they ( the authorities) need to implement the plan to fight terrorism, they will also focus on this group" of Tajiks, she added. They will grab Tajiks and blame Ukrainians. It was clear from the very beginning," the newspaper quoted Russian human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina as saying.

It is noted that Tajiks in Moscow are so frightened that they hardly ever go out. They now fear not only deportation, but also that they may be forcibly sent to war against Ukraine.

Read more: Number of victims of terrorist attack in Crocus shopping mall near Moscow rises to 143

Putin has always sought to exploit ethnic tensions for his own purposes. His rise to power was linked to the war in Chechnya, where Russia attempted to brutally suppress separatist movements. Putin also helped to foment separatism in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia for the purpose of occupying them.