Foreign workers under threat in Russia

Most of the deaths are a result of unsafe work conditions at construction sites, mines, and other work sites that employ labourers from nations such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. But many of those deaths are also allegedly the result of attacks carried out by Russian ultra-nationalists. In one instance, a Tajik was captured and publicly beheaded by skinheads, who filmed the murder with a cell phone and posted the video online.

International human rights groups have accused the Russian media of ignoring the deaths. In an open letter to the UN, the Russian government, and the Council of Europe, Tajik leaders called on outside observers to take steps to limit the influence of “xenophobic sentiments” and “nationalist extremism” in the country.   Read More