Feedback Russian organizations, both public and private, often impose discriminatory requirements on contractors, a new post from RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit, Systema, highlights. Many official tender documents explicitly state that cleaning, security, and equipment installation must be handled exclusively by people of “Slavic appearance.” In some cases, individuals of “Caucasian heritage” (i.e. people who appear to be from the Caucasus region) are explicitly barred from certain facilities. Meduza shares an abridged translation of Systema’s reporting.
‘Ethnic profiling has become the norm’
Stefania Kulaeva, an expert from the ADC Memorial, told Systema that while discrimination in Russia is evolving, the overall situation is not improving:
If we talk about positive changes, for example, the list of banned professions for women is gradually shrinking, which is an important step forward. But overall, restrictions on migrant employment are tightening, and ethnic discrimination remains a routine practice for employers. These requirements are illegal and, in theory, can be challenged in court.
She also noted that racism in Russia extends far beyond hiring practices:
We’re seeing more attacks on people who don’t have a Slavic appearance, while at the state level, instead of fighting xenophobia, racist rhetoric is becoming more common. Officials and security forces themselves fuel this hatred — for instance, a representative of the Interior Ministry recently spoke about the need to “lighten up the Moscow region.” In an environment of war and rising nationalism, it’s no surprise that ethnic profiling has become the norm.
Read the full article in Russian / in English at the Meduza, at the RFE/RL