USSIA Violence feared during Russian Unity Day On November 4, Russia celebrates its annual Unity Day. For years, the holiday has been overshadowed by right-wing extremists, who protest against immigrants. This year, the atmosphere is particularly explosive. Russian nationalists shout as they attend a Russian March demonstration on National Unity Day in Moscow November 4, 2012. Russia marks the National Unity Day on November 4 when it celebrates the defeat of Polish invaders in 1612. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Unity Day Russian March on November 4, 2012 Rustam Arifchanov, chairman of the Azerbaijani Congress in Russia, has warned his countrymen to be careful if they venture out in public on November 4. He said that it would be best if Azeri proprietors “completely close” their cafes and restaurants, so that their businesses are not completely demolished. Arifchanovs warning comes in anticipation of the so-called Russian March, organized annually by Russian nationalists. Thousands are expected to turn out in the Moscow district of Lyublino on Monday, where they will demonstrate against migrants and for ethnic Russians. Marches and rallies are also planned in other cities. Dark-skinned migrants targeted In the past, these demonstrations have turned violent, with drunken right-wing extremists hunting down people with darker skin, resulting injuries and even deaths. The victims were mostly migrant workers from Central Asia and the Caucasus. 2300833 Russia, Moscow. 10/14/2013 Migrants detained during a raid at a vegetable warehouse in Zapadnoye Biryulyovo. Grigoriy Sisoev/RIA Novosti Police have launched many raids against migrant workers in recent months Moscow, above all, attracts hundreds of thousands of migrants from the former Soviet republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. They often work illegally on construction sites or in restaurants. Many Russians believe that migrants are responsible for rising criminality. The police and other authorities have arrested many migrants in recent months. Holiday hijacked by far right Officially, Russia celebrates November 4 as its Unity Day. The holiday was first introduced in 2004 and is supposed to mark the victory of the Russian resistance in 1612 against occupying Polish forces in Moscow. But many Russians are blasé about the holiday, according to Lev Gudkov. Most see an attempt to drive November 7 from memory, Gudkov, the director of the Moscow pollster Levada Center, told DW. The Soviets celebrated November 7 as their national holiday to mark the 1917 October Revolution by the Bolsheviks. But ever since Unity Day was first introduced, right-wing extremists have re-appropriated it for their own purposes. Lew Gudkow (Lev Gudkov), Leiter des unabhängigen Umfrageinstituts Lewada-Zentrums (Russland), aufgenommen am 25.04.2013 in Berlin während einer deutsch-russischen NGO-Konferenz Die Rechte liegen bei DW-Redakteur Mikhail Bushuev, werden DW freigegeben. Gudkov: Propensity for violence has risen While the authorities initially had no content for Unity Day, the nationalists reacted quickly and practically privatized it, Alexander Verkhovsky told DW. Verkhovsky is the director of the SOVA Center in Moscow, which investigates nationalism and xenophobia in Russia. The Russian Marches are the most important and biggest event in the right-wing scene, wrote expert Robert Kusche in an analysis. Many different neo-Nazi groups march on November 4 under the black-yellow-white flag of the 19th century Russian Empire. Swastikas and Hitler salutes are also to be seen. Tense situation after recent clashes This year, the mood is particularly tense. A few weeks ago, in the Moscow district Biryulyovo, an Azeri allegedly stabbed a young Russian to death, sparking heavy rioting. Hundreds of neighborhood residents stormed the weekly market, where many migrants work, and also fought street battles with the police. Other events have also contributed to the tension, according to Gudkov. In October, a female suicide bomber from Dagestan blew herself up on a bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. Six people died in the attack. And during the Moscow mayoral race at the beginning of September, illegal immigration was a top issue. The propensity for violence has risen in this context, said Gudkov. He added that public attitudes toward the Russian March have radically changed. According to a poll by the Levada Center, 40 percent of those asked support the far-right demonstration, while just 25 percent oppose it. Two years ago, it was the reverse. Titel des Bildes: Alexander Werchowski, Verkhovsky Gewünschte Bild-Beschreibung: Alexander Werchowski, Verkhovsky, Direktor des Miskauer Zentrums Sowa für Nationalismus-Studien Gewünschte Schlagwörter: Russland, Nationalismus, Sowa, Alexander Werchowski, Verkhovsky, Übertragung der Rechte dieses Bildes an DW-Online: Dieses Bild wurde der DW von Herrn Werchowski zur Verfügung gestellt und darf frei verwendet werden. Zulieferer: Roman Goncharenko Verkhovsky says the Russian far right is split The number of those who reject the Russian March as a neo-Nazi event has gone down drastically, said Gudkov. Division in the far-right scene Event organizers have predicted that the Russian March this year will surpass all expectations. While Gudkov doesnt rule that out as a possibility, Verkhovsky from the SOVA Center is more skeptical. In the winter of 2011-2012, there was a split in the far-right scene, Verkhovsky said. At the time, neo-Nazis demonstrated together with leftists and liberal representatives of the urban middle class against Vladimir Putins return to the presidency. These common protests angered the hardcore neo-Nazis, who subsequently abandoned the Russian March. In the past, leading Russian opposition politician and blogger Alexei Navalny also participated in the Russian March. Many liberal intellectuals criticize him to this day for participating. In recent years, Navalny has distanced himself from the marches. Whether he will participate this year is unclear. In a recent interview, Navalny wouldnt rule it out. DW.DE A decade on, Khodorkovsky stands his ground Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky writes analytical articles about his country from behind bars. Ten years after the billionaire was thrown in jail, he still divides opinion across Russia. (25.10.2013) Fear of terror returns to Russia The deadly explosion in Volgograd has Russians concerned about the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics. Experts warn that Islamist terrorists might be turning their attention back to Russia. (21.10.2013) A decisive election for Kremlin critic Navalny Young Russian blogger and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny hoped to become Moscows new mayor after Sundays vote. The election, viewed as a test for the political opposition, could decide his personal fate. (08.09.2013) Date 03.11.2013 Author Roman Goncharenko / slk Editor Gregg Benzow Share Send Facebook Twitter google+ More Feedback: Send us an e-mail. Please include your name and country in your reply. Print Print this page Permalink dw.de/p/1AAMJ MORE CONTENT Russian nationalists shout as they attend a Russian March demonstration on National Unity Day in Moscow November 4, 2012. Russia marks the National Unity Day on November 4 when it celebrates the defeat of Polish invaders in 1612. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Violence feared during Russian Unity Day 03.11.2013 On November 4, Russia celebrates its annual Unity Day. For years, the holiday has been overshadowed by right-wing extremists, who protest against immigrants. This year, the atmosphere is particularly explosive. A Turkish woman using a mobile phone to read the news on social media joins demonstrators at midnight in Taksim Gezi Park on June 13, 2013 in Istanbul after a large clean-up operation removed all evidence of unrest, the square cleared of stray tear gas cannisters, anti-Erdogan banners and makeshift barricades. Demonstrators retreated after a night of running battles with riot police as the Turkish Prime Minister moved to crush mass demos against his Islamic-rooted government. AFP PHOTO / OZAN KOSE (Photo credit should read OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images) Facebook censorship of Kurdish political party 02.11.2013 Social media giant Facebook has waded into one of Europe longest-running conflicts after it banned pages belonging to Turkeys largest pro-Kurdish political party. Stasi, KGB were childs play compared to today 01.11.2013 It seems that every day brings new claims and counter-claims about whos spying on whom. Governments are trying to limit the damage, but that damage is not limited to governments, expert Jeremie Zimmermann told DW. Date 03.11.2013 Author Roman Goncharenko / slk Editor Gregg Benzow Share Send Facebook Twitter google+ More Send us your feedback. Print Print this page Permalink dw.de/p/1AAMJ INSIDE EUROPE Listen to this weeks show 01.11.13 Ghost busting in Berlin Latvia struggles with Hepatitis C ELECTIONS Polling station attacked as Kosovo votes Kosovo police (KPS) secure the area in front of the Sveti Sava (Photo: REUTERS/Marko Djurica) Masked men have attacked a polling station in the Kosovar town of Mitrovica. The assault took place as the country held elections aimed at bringing the Serb and Albanian ethnic groups together. German authorities reportedly discover 1,500 paintings seized by Nazis Thousands evacuated in German city for WWII bomb disposal The lifeguards of the nation CULTURE The story behind the song Drafi Deutscher Copyright: dpa Some song lyrics you just never forget - whether its pop, rock, rap or blues. Behind some of the best-loves lined are some compelling stories about the musicians who wrote them. 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