On February 11, the Central House of Journalism in Moscow hosted a presentation of the “Anti-Semitism in Russia - 2013” report, prepared by the Expert Group on Anti-Semitism of the Jewish community of Russia. The group was created and is working with the support of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC).

The report was presented by EAJC Secretary General Michael Chlenov; expert group coordinator, historian, and journalist Semen Charny; Deputy Chaiman of the Moscow Anti-Fascism Center Victor Dashevsky; President of the Russian Department of the International Society for Human Rights Vladimir Novitsky; FJCR Representative to NGOs and Governmental Structures Andrei Glotser.

The experts presented the results of an annual of anti-Semitism in Russia. According to it, 2013 saw 3 attacks on Jews and 24 acts of anti-Semitic vandalism. These indices represent a slight growth in comparison to previous years but are hardly grounds to talk about a growth of anti-Semitism in Russia.

As EAJC Secretary General Michael Chlenov said, “The “growth of anti-Semitism” in Russia remains within the margin of statistical error. Studies clearly show that in comparison to many European countries, Russia today is a fairly calm place for the Jews. Still, it should be noted that while anti-Semitism is not growing, it is not declining, either. There is a stable percentage of people who believe themselves to be anti-Semites or who share anti-Semitic ideas. And this latent anti-Semitism, naturally, is a hidden threat.”