The brutal interventions recently committed by the Czech Police and Czech Interior Ministry officials against the nonviolent, peaceful blockades of neo-Nazi marches in the towns of Nový Bydžov and Krupka have not scared off those opposed to neo-Nazism. On the contrary, more and more celebrities from public life are starting to join their efforts.
The BRNO BLOCKS Initiative (BRNO BLOKUJE) is preparing a nonviolent blockade of the neo-Nazi march on 1 May 2011 in Brno and is calling on people to join them in Cejl street. "Neo-Nazi sympathizers want to march through the streets of Brno and have intentionally chosen a route that leads through Cejl street, a place where a large number of people from various minority groups, particularly Roma people, now live," reads the BRNO BLOCKS invitation received by news server Romea.cz. The exact place and time of this blockade will be specified later and news server Romea.cz will report those developments.
More and more celebrities are expressing support for this nonviolent blockade. People are standing up for the jeopardized residents of the quarter and drawing attention to the fact that the dissemination of fear and hatred cannot be ignored.
Those celebrities include singer Iva Bittová, fashion designer Liběna Rochová, clergyman and college instructor Tomáš Halík, author Ivan Klíma, the bands Midi Lidi and Čoko Voko, the actor and television host Jan Kraus, political scientist Jiří Pehe, philosopher Erazim Kohák, Brno-based actors Jiří Kniha and Jiří Vyorálek, actress Simona Babčáková, theologian Ivan Štampach, and the World Champion in Thai Boxing, Jan Müller. All of them supported the nonviolent blockade of the 1 May neo-Nazi march through Brno just days after it was publicized.
Fashion designer Liběna Rochová: "We do not want anyone to have to experience violence, fear, demonstrations of force, terror, or the feeling of powerlessness. Any form of violence is incompatible with a dignified life."
Clergyman and college instructor Tomáš Halík: "I express my sincere moral support to all who stand against the neo-Nazi extremist provocation in Brno in an unequivocally nonviolent but brave and full-hearted way."
Actor and television host Jan Kraus: "Like every other normal, slightly educated person I know that racism is the basis of the worst human behavior. History has proven that beyond the shadow of a doubt. The more of us who show we are prepared to protect our own freedom and our innocent fellow-citizens, the less risk there will be that the Nazis do something. Thank you for your Initiative, which I fully support. I am with you in spirit."
Jiří Pehe, political scientist and director of New York University in Prague: "I definitely support the activities of this initiative, which is doing its best to prevent the rise of extremist and neo-Nazi tendencies in Czech society. That is why I wish the 'BRNO BLOCKS Initiative much success and I thank the initiators for their civic courage."
Actress Simona Babčáková: "I support the BRNO BLOCKS Initiative because I believe it is necessary to show that certain aggressive, radically dogmatic approaches cannot be tolerated by society."
Jan Müller, World Super-Heavyweight Champion in Thai Boxing: "I believe that every person who realizes what these hateful ideologies can lead to is obliged to clearly, forcefully reject all manifestations of racism and xenophobia, whatever guise they take. A nonviolent blockade of this march is, in my opinion, a legitimate expression of our rejection of the promotion of racist and xenophobic ideas and I intend to support it."
Philosopher Erazim Kohák: "In an age of fear and hatred, solidarity is our only refuge. When the freedom and human dignity of any single person is jeopardized, it is not only a threat to all of us, but to this country as a place for coexisting in freedom, good will, and respect. I thank Brno for its blockade."
BRNO BLOCKS (BRNO BLOKUJE) considers a neo-Nazi march through a quarter where Roma families live to be a symbol of the fact that, 66 years after the end of the Second World War, and two years after neo-Nazis attempted to burn a Roma family alive in Vítkov, Czech society is not able to address the danger of the continued spread of fear, hatred and violence. "If these people are allowed to march undisturbed while chanting their racist slogans through the streets of Brno along the route of Koliště - Cejl - Milady Horákové streets, they will not only feel the streets are theirs, they will have the self-confidence to commit further attacks," Initiative representatives say.
In this situation, the Initiative considers a nonviolent civil blockade to be a legitimate response to the inability or unwillingness of the police to effectively take on these hate marches: "In other countries such a march would prompt an immediate reaction from the general public and thousands of people would stand in its way. On Sunday, 1 May 2011 we will try to do that in Brno. Support us. We will be glad if you can come directly to the blockade. More detailed information will be updated on our web page. You can also support us in other ways. Spread the word about this action to those you know and through social networking sites, or print out and distribute the fliers or posters for it."
Romea
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Neo-Nazi website reappears on Hitler’s birthday (Austria)
The neo-Nazi website "alpen donau" reappeared today (Weds) on the occasion of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s birthday. He was born on 20 April 1889.
The website featured a change, however, from the former alpen.donau.info to alpen.donau.net. The former site disappeared from the net at the end of March after US authorities had taken action against the US server responsible for it.
The new site was registered on 16 April at Wild West Domains in Arizona.
The new website criticised today the 11 April arrest of Austrian neo-Nazi Gottfried Küssel and claimed that "no one can stop us. We are ready to make a counter-blow."
Küssel has been accused of cooperating with people behind "Alpe-Donau." Austrian officials had been forced to watch as anonymous neo-Nazis posted hate messages against foreigners in German on the homepage. "Alpe-Donau" also made headlines for revealing the home addresses and private phone numbers of several journalists and left-wing politicians.
Küssel’s arrest came around half a year after investigators had confiscated data storage devices and documents at dozens of apartments and offices in Vienna. Around a dozen of users of "Alpe-Donau" – which promoted events held by Küssel in cooperation with Czech neo-Nazis – have been identified in the meantime.
Officials said that, apart from Küssel, another suspect had been taken into custody. They added that various objects depicting Nazi era logos and slogans – which are banned under Austrian law – had been seized as six flats were searched on the evening of 11 April.
Investigators think that some of the suspects may also have links with the Freedom Party (FPÖ), the third-strongest political force in the federal parliament, according to reports. FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache has pointed out many times over the past months that he and his party wanted to disassociate themselves from the disputed online forum.
Strache was pressed to speak out on the issue after participators in discussions on the website praised his party for its current policies. The FPÖ has sparked outcry among most political competitors for campaigning against members of the Islamic community in Austria who are unwilling to integrate into society. Strache has warned of the creation of "parallel societies" in several speeches on the campaign trail in recent years. Surveys show that the right-wing party could come in first if there was a general election this month.
Organisers of "Alpe-Donau" and people engaging in discussions in the website’s forum face several years in prison if prosecutors press charges under Austrian anti-Nazi propaganda law and regulations.
Vienna Times
The website featured a change, however, from the former alpen.donau.info to alpen.donau.net. The former site disappeared from the net at the end of March after US authorities had taken action against the US server responsible for it.
The new site was registered on 16 April at Wild West Domains in Arizona.
The new website criticised today the 11 April arrest of Austrian neo-Nazi Gottfried Küssel and claimed that "no one can stop us. We are ready to make a counter-blow."
Küssel has been accused of cooperating with people behind "Alpe-Donau." Austrian officials had been forced to watch as anonymous neo-Nazis posted hate messages against foreigners in German on the homepage. "Alpe-Donau" also made headlines for revealing the home addresses and private phone numbers of several journalists and left-wing politicians.
Küssel’s arrest came around half a year after investigators had confiscated data storage devices and documents at dozens of apartments and offices in Vienna. Around a dozen of users of "Alpe-Donau" – which promoted events held by Küssel in cooperation with Czech neo-Nazis – have been identified in the meantime.
Officials said that, apart from Küssel, another suspect had been taken into custody. They added that various objects depicting Nazi era logos and slogans – which are banned under Austrian law – had been seized as six flats were searched on the evening of 11 April.
Investigators think that some of the suspects may also have links with the Freedom Party (FPÖ), the third-strongest political force in the federal parliament, according to reports. FPÖ boss Heinz-Christian Strache has pointed out many times over the past months that he and his party wanted to disassociate themselves from the disputed online forum.
Strache was pressed to speak out on the issue after participators in discussions on the website praised his party for its current policies. The FPÖ has sparked outcry among most political competitors for campaigning against members of the Islamic community in Austria who are unwilling to integrate into society. Strache has warned of the creation of "parallel societies" in several speeches on the campaign trail in recent years. Surveys show that the right-wing party could come in first if there was a general election this month.
Organisers of "Alpe-Donau" and people engaging in discussions in the website’s forum face several years in prison if prosecutors press charges under Austrian anti-Nazi propaganda law and regulations.
Vienna Times
Bill White freed, going to Maryland for now (USA)
Free after more than two years in prison, William A. White will not be coming home to Roanoke, where he built a real estate business and a neo-Nazi organization before falling victim to his own hateful words.
White plans to live with his parents in Maryland -- at least for the time being, his attorney said Wednesday.
After a judge's decision to throw out a jury verdict that would have subjected him to more prison time, White was released about 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.
The leader of a now-defunct hate group, White has spent two and a half years locked up on charges of threatening, intimidating and encouraging violence against blacks, Jews and others he believed worthy of a white supremacist's wrath.
White seems to have little to return to in Roanoke.
The American National Socialist Workers Party, a neo-Nazi group he founded, is no more, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups. And the rental home business that White ran in the West End neighborhood has fallen victim to bankruptcy.
Still, White will have to come to Roanoke at least temporarily to visit probation officers as part of his three years of supervised release after his incarceration.
"At some point, he will be arriving in Roanoke, it appears," said Mike Price, a senior probation officer who is responsible for supervising the 33-year-old.
It's possible that White could ask that his probation be transferred to Maryland, where he will be living with his parents in their suburban Montgomery County home. Price declined to say if such a request has been made.
Nishay Sanan, a Chicago lawyer who represented White on his most recent charges, said his client already is making plans to meet with probation officials in Maryland.
White -- once described as one of the loudest and most obnoxious neo-Nazi leaders in America by the Southern Poverty Law Center -- walked free Wednesday on the orders of U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman.
His mother and wife were waiting to take him back to Maryland, Sanan said.
The previous day, Adelman ruled that a Chicago jury was wrong when it convicted White in January of using his website to encourage violence against the foreman of a jury that convicted a fellow white supremacist years ago.
White's behavior in that case mirrored his actions in many others: He publicized his target's home address and telephone numbers, injected some inflammatory rhetoric meant to appeal to his racist website's followers, but never made a direct threat against the juror.
In fighting the Chicago charge and seven similar ones in Roanoke, White sought protection from the First Amendment. More often than not, his defense worked.
But in the end, White's organization fell apart after he was sent to prison on the three charges for which a Roanoke jury ruled his actions crossed the line between free speech and criminal activity.
Now that he's out, White must refrain from using one of his favorite weapons.
As a condition of his probation, White is forbidden from participating in "any Internet related business or hobby involving a website, and the posting of any information on any website."
Brenda Hale, who White once deemed "a n----- in need of lynching" for her vigilance against him as president of the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said she expects White to eventually go back to his old ways.
Yet in a letter to The Roanoke Times, written while he was in prison, White said he planned to withdraw from the white supremacy movement and keep his website dark upon his release.
"I do not intend to recant my views," he wrote, "even if I will quiet them."
Roanoke.com
White plans to live with his parents in Maryland -- at least for the time being, his attorney said Wednesday.
After a judge's decision to throw out a jury verdict that would have subjected him to more prison time, White was released about 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.
The leader of a now-defunct hate group, White has spent two and a half years locked up on charges of threatening, intimidating and encouraging violence against blacks, Jews and others he believed worthy of a white supremacist's wrath.
White seems to have little to return to in Roanoke.
The American National Socialist Workers Party, a neo-Nazi group he founded, is no more, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups. And the rental home business that White ran in the West End neighborhood has fallen victim to bankruptcy.
Still, White will have to come to Roanoke at least temporarily to visit probation officers as part of his three years of supervised release after his incarceration.
"At some point, he will be arriving in Roanoke, it appears," said Mike Price, a senior probation officer who is responsible for supervising the 33-year-old.
It's possible that White could ask that his probation be transferred to Maryland, where he will be living with his parents in their suburban Montgomery County home. Price declined to say if such a request has been made.
Nishay Sanan, a Chicago lawyer who represented White on his most recent charges, said his client already is making plans to meet with probation officials in Maryland.
White -- once described as one of the loudest and most obnoxious neo-Nazi leaders in America by the Southern Poverty Law Center -- walked free Wednesday on the orders of U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman.
His mother and wife were waiting to take him back to Maryland, Sanan said.
The previous day, Adelman ruled that a Chicago jury was wrong when it convicted White in January of using his website to encourage violence against the foreman of a jury that convicted a fellow white supremacist years ago.
White's behavior in that case mirrored his actions in many others: He publicized his target's home address and telephone numbers, injected some inflammatory rhetoric meant to appeal to his racist website's followers, but never made a direct threat against the juror.
In fighting the Chicago charge and seven similar ones in Roanoke, White sought protection from the First Amendment. More often than not, his defense worked.
But in the end, White's organization fell apart after he was sent to prison on the three charges for which a Roanoke jury ruled his actions crossed the line between free speech and criminal activity.
Now that he's out, White must refrain from using one of his favorite weapons.
As a condition of his probation, White is forbidden from participating in "any Internet related business or hobby involving a website, and the posting of any information on any website."
Brenda Hale, who White once deemed "a n----- in need of lynching" for her vigilance against him as president of the Roanoke chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said she expects White to eventually go back to his old ways.
Yet in a letter to The Roanoke Times, written while he was in prison, White said he planned to withdraw from the white supremacy movement and keep his website dark upon his release.
"I do not intend to recant my views," he wrote, "even if I will quiet them."
Roanoke.com
BNP activist slams police over his arrest at protest (UK)
A former teacher and British National Party member has accused police of wasting taxpayers’ money after he was arrested for protesting.
Adam Walker, from Spennymoor, County Durham, was arrested by West Yorkshire Police in Wakefield, on Tuesday.
He was part of a ten-man BNP protest group supporting Wakefield and District Housing electrician Colin Atkinson.
Mr Atkinson faces a disciplinary hearing by the housing group for refusing to move an 8in palm cross on his work’s vehicle dashboard.
Mr Walker, an ex-technology teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College, Houghtonle- Spring, near Sunderland, pledged his support.
He and the BNP group handed a letter to the bosses of the housing group, supporting Mr Atkinson.
He said: “We were there to protect the rights of a Christian who has been persecuted for his beliefs.
“We handed in the letter at 1pm and then 15 officers arrived on the scene.
“I was parked in a private car park and they said I was parked over a path and told me I had to move. I agreed to move and they tried to give me a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in a private car park.
“I refused to give them my name because I felt I’d done nothing wrong. I have a solicitor looking into it now.
“They stuck the ticket on my windscreen without my name on it and it was thrown on the floor.
“They opened the car door and took my keys and then the police dragged me from the car and handcuffed me.
“They took my belongings from me as they walked me to their van and they took me to the police station, but didn’t charge me.
“They expect me to pay the £60 fine for the ticket, but it won’t be paid.
“I was exercising my right to peaceful protest and the police action was another big waste of taxpayers’ money.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We can confirm one man was arrested in relation to unrelated matters.
“He was given a fixed penalty ticket in relation to minor motoring offences.”
Northern Echo
Adam Walker, from Spennymoor, County Durham, was arrested by West Yorkshire Police in Wakefield, on Tuesday.
He was part of a ten-man BNP protest group supporting Wakefield and District Housing electrician Colin Atkinson.
Mr Atkinson faces a disciplinary hearing by the housing group for refusing to move an 8in palm cross on his work’s vehicle dashboard.
Mr Walker, an ex-technology teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College, Houghtonle- Spring, near Sunderland, pledged his support.
He and the BNP group handed a letter to the bosses of the housing group, supporting Mr Atkinson.
He said: “We were there to protect the rights of a Christian who has been persecuted for his beliefs.
“We handed in the letter at 1pm and then 15 officers arrived on the scene.
“I was parked in a private car park and they said I was parked over a path and told me I had to move. I agreed to move and they tried to give me a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt in a private car park.
“I refused to give them my name because I felt I’d done nothing wrong. I have a solicitor looking into it now.
“They stuck the ticket on my windscreen without my name on it and it was thrown on the floor.
“They opened the car door and took my keys and then the police dragged me from the car and handcuffed me.
“They took my belongings from me as they walked me to their van and they took me to the police station, but didn’t charge me.
“They expect me to pay the £60 fine for the ticket, but it won’t be paid.
“I was exercising my right to peaceful protest and the police action was another big waste of taxpayers’ money.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We can confirm one man was arrested in relation to unrelated matters.
“He was given a fixed penalty ticket in relation to minor motoring offences.”
Northern Echo
EDL member jailed for Liverpool Street football brawl (UK)
An English Defence League member has been jailed for nine months after taking part in a pre-arranged brawl between football supporters in London.
Joel Titus, 19, took part in the "pitched battle" between supporters of Brentford and Leyton Orient outside Liverpool Street station in May 2010.
Titus, of Pinner, north-west London, and five other men admitted affray.
The brawl, during which people punched, kicked and threw bottles, was by "prior arrangement", the Old Bailey heard.
Dean Wells, 22, of Isleworth, west London, was jailed for 12 months, David Mitchell, 19, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, was sentenced to seven months and Andrew Hudson, 26, of Hornchurch, Essex, was given an eight-month jail term.
Steven Donovan, 20, of Hayes, west London, and Thomas Armstrong, 24, of Woodford Green, Essex, were each given suspended six-month sentences.
'Frightening spectacle'
Judge Timothy Pontius said all six had taken part in a "disgraceful display of violence" that terrified ordinary people using a busy railway station as bottles were thrown across the street during the fight.
The "pitched battle" must have been a "frightening spectacle", he said, which required a "firm deterrent message".
Titus, an A-level student, was previously been convicted of threatening behaviour for swearing at a police officer who was trying to break up a fight. He will be sentenced in May.
The incident took place while he was on bail following the football brawl, the Old Bailey heard.
He also has a previous caution for battery after hitting a journalist during a right-wing demonstration in December 2009.
Henrietta Paget, for the prosecution, said Brentford-supporting hooligans had travelled to the scene after a game against Hartlepool, to meet rival Leyton Orient supporters, who were on their way back from a match at Colchester in Essex.
The court heard Hudson told police that there was "history" between the clubs dating back to the 1980s.
Titus said he went to the scene after hearing some commotion, but denied any knowledge of the brawl being prearranged.
All six were given football banning orders.
BBC News
Joel Titus, 19, took part in the "pitched battle" between supporters of Brentford and Leyton Orient outside Liverpool Street station in May 2010.
Titus, of Pinner, north-west London, and five other men admitted affray.
The brawl, during which people punched, kicked and threw bottles, was by "prior arrangement", the Old Bailey heard.
Dean Wells, 22, of Isleworth, west London, was jailed for 12 months, David Mitchell, 19, of Littlehampton, West Sussex, was sentenced to seven months and Andrew Hudson, 26, of Hornchurch, Essex, was given an eight-month jail term.
Steven Donovan, 20, of Hayes, west London, and Thomas Armstrong, 24, of Woodford Green, Essex, were each given suspended six-month sentences.
'Frightening spectacle'
Judge Timothy Pontius said all six had taken part in a "disgraceful display of violence" that terrified ordinary people using a busy railway station as bottles were thrown across the street during the fight.
The "pitched battle" must have been a "frightening spectacle", he said, which required a "firm deterrent message".
Titus, an A-level student, was previously been convicted of threatening behaviour for swearing at a police officer who was trying to break up a fight. He will be sentenced in May.
The incident took place while he was on bail following the football brawl, the Old Bailey heard.
He also has a previous caution for battery after hitting a journalist during a right-wing demonstration in December 2009.
Henrietta Paget, for the prosecution, said Brentford-supporting hooligans had travelled to the scene after a game against Hartlepool, to meet rival Leyton Orient supporters, who were on their way back from a match at Colchester in Essex.
The court heard Hudson told police that there was "history" between the clubs dating back to the 1980s.
Titus said he went to the scene after hearing some commotion, but denied any knowledge of the brawl being prearranged.
All six were given football banning orders.
BBC News
Rugby League star Ben Cockayne faces probe over alleged racist comments on Facebook (UK)
A big money rugby league star was being investigated last night after racist comments appeared on his and a mate’s Facebook pages.
Super League ace Ben Cockayne, 27, allegedly posted “p*** c***” on the site earlier this week.
It is thought the Hull KR fullback wrote on a pal’s profile page: “u owe me a quid an the p*** c*** that has got my wallet in his car owes me about 100”. It is believed Cockayne was referring to a wallet which he had lost in a taxi.
But 53 minutes later Cockayne, who was given a 12-month suspended sentence in 2009 for an assault, wrote on Facebook: “Found it :) thank f***”.
Last night Cockayne’s Facebook profile was removed within hours of the Mirror contacting his club and the Rugby Football League. A Hull KR spokesman said: “The club will be carrying out a full internal investigation into comments allegedly made on a website by Ben Cockayne. Nobody will be commenting further until that has concluded.”
The Rugby Football League, which has a Kick Racism Into Touch campaign, said: “We will be speaking to Hull KR about a potential social media matter.”
The Mirror
Super League ace Ben Cockayne, 27, allegedly posted “p*** c***” on the site earlier this week.
It is thought the Hull KR fullback wrote on a pal’s profile page: “u owe me a quid an the p*** c*** that has got my wallet in his car owes me about 100”. It is believed Cockayne was referring to a wallet which he had lost in a taxi.
But 53 minutes later Cockayne, who was given a 12-month suspended sentence in 2009 for an assault, wrote on Facebook: “Found it :) thank f***”.
Last night Cockayne’s Facebook profile was removed within hours of the Mirror contacting his club and the Rugby Football League. A Hull KR spokesman said: “The club will be carrying out a full internal investigation into comments allegedly made on a website by Ben Cockayne. Nobody will be commenting further until that has concluded.”
The Rugby Football League, which has a Kick Racism Into Touch campaign, said: “We will be speaking to Hull KR about a potential social media matter.”
The Mirror
Russian migration official fired in racism row
The spokesman for Russia's main migration agency was fired Wednesday after saying in an interview the "survival of the white race was at stake" in Russia.
Konstantin Poltoranin, the Federal Migration Service's chief spokesman since 2005, said he did not understand why Europe fostered immigration from Africa and the Middle East.
Russia must be more cautious about "mixing bloods," he said in an interview with the BBC Russian Service just hours before his sacking.
"The survival of the white race is at stake and this is very palpable in Russia," Poltoranin said.
The head of the Federal Migration Service, Konstantin Romadanovsky, called the comments "unacceptable" and confirmed they had cost the spokesman his job, the state-run Itar-tass news agency reported.
The Kremlin added Poltoranin's interview had raised a red flag at the presidential administration and his sacking was a "logical and necessary step," a spokesman said.
In a subsequent interview, Poltoranin denied his comments were "racist," but stressed Russia should give priority to migrants who "know Russia, know our faith and accept our customs and laws."
The Russian Orthodox Church is the dominant faith, but about one-fifth of Russia's 143 million people are Muslims.
With its combustible mix of disenchanted ethnic Russian youth and labour migrants from the mostly Muslim North Caucasus and ex-Soviet Central Asia, Moscow has become a focal point of racial tensions.
In December, Moscow saw the worst nationalist riots in its post-Soviet history, with police unable to stop some 7,000 youths rallying near the Kremlin from attacking people of non-Slavic appearance in what President Dmitry Medvedev called "pogroms."
SOVA, a non-government group that tracks ethnic violence, said at least at least two people were killed and 68 injured in hate crimes last December, compared to three killed and 22 wounded for the same month in 2009.
At least 37 people were killed in hate crimes in Russia last year, it said.
Reuters
Konstantin Poltoranin, the Federal Migration Service's chief spokesman since 2005, said he did not understand why Europe fostered immigration from Africa and the Middle East.
Russia must be more cautious about "mixing bloods," he said in an interview with the BBC Russian Service just hours before his sacking.
"The survival of the white race is at stake and this is very palpable in Russia," Poltoranin said.
The head of the Federal Migration Service, Konstantin Romadanovsky, called the comments "unacceptable" and confirmed they had cost the spokesman his job, the state-run Itar-tass news agency reported.
The Kremlin added Poltoranin's interview had raised a red flag at the presidential administration and his sacking was a "logical and necessary step," a spokesman said.
In a subsequent interview, Poltoranin denied his comments were "racist," but stressed Russia should give priority to migrants who "know Russia, know our faith and accept our customs and laws."
The Russian Orthodox Church is the dominant faith, but about one-fifth of Russia's 143 million people are Muslims.
With its combustible mix of disenchanted ethnic Russian youth and labour migrants from the mostly Muslim North Caucasus and ex-Soviet Central Asia, Moscow has become a focal point of racial tensions.
In December, Moscow saw the worst nationalist riots in its post-Soviet history, with police unable to stop some 7,000 youths rallying near the Kremlin from attacking people of non-Slavic appearance in what President Dmitry Medvedev called "pogroms."
SOVA, a non-government group that tracks ethnic violence, said at least at least two people were killed and 68 injured in hate crimes last December, compared to three killed and 22 wounded for the same month in 2009.
At least 37 people were killed in hate crimes in Russia last year, it said.
Reuters
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