The time surrounding the anniversary of Adolph Hitler's birth on April 20th is a horrible time for foreigners living in Russia. During this period foreigners in the country refrain from going out, and rush to get home whenever they must leave their houses. Some even stay home from work and keep their children out of school during the period. This is to avoid attacks by extreme rightists racists or skinheads of which there are an estimated 50,000 in the country.

As the skinheads have been posting threats everywhere that they will attack all foreigners ahead of the anniversary of the Nazi leader's birthday, the Korean Embassy in Russia on Thursday advised Korean expatriates to be careful not to be targeted.

As extreme nationalists, the Skinheads expressed their xenophobia taking advantage of big Russian feast days starting with Hitler’s birthday, on the Easter of the Russian Orthodox Church (April 23rd), and the anniversary of the last day of the WWII (May,9). This year they declared their plans to attack with guns and hand grenades, and referred their plans against foreigners as a “war.“ Under the title of “Skinhead War”, the email warned, “All foreigners must leave Russia. We will launch our war starting on the birthday of Hitler. We will attack diplomats and their families and kill them.”

Last year, 44 people were killed by the Skinheads and three Korean students suffered mid to severe injuries in a group attack last February in St. Petersburg. The Russian government declared its own war against the Skinheads and launched a campaign to crack down on the gang but it has been met with little effect.

(englishnews@chosun.com )