Russian is the European state leading the table of offenders in the list Peoples under threat, published by the international organisation Minority Rights Group (MRG). The ranking is created from 10 indicators related to violence -conflicts stemming from self-determination processes, previous genocides, number of refugees, political stability, etc.- so that the higher the score, the more threatened are the minorities within a particular State.

Chechens, Ingushes and the rest of ethnic groups from the North Caucasus are, together with Roma, Jews and several indigenous peoples, among the most threatened nations of the Russian Federation, which ranks 16 after rising 7 positions within the last year. Minority Rights Group (MRG) has identified in Russia five conflicts related to self-determination processes, two armed conflicts and one previous genocide.

According to MRG's list, minority peoples in Georgia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia are among Europe's most threatened groups.

The three countries leading the list of offenders are Somalia -which remains entrenched in position 1-, Sudan -a country that rises from position 3 to 2- and Iraq. Six Asian countries and 4 African states populate the ten first places.

The risers

The MRG report highlights the major risers in the ranking irrespective of their relative position. According to MRG, on numerous occasions "countries that have risen sharply up the table have later proved to be the scene of gross human rights violations". Such is the case of Sudan, Russia, Philippines, Yemen, Georgia and especially Thailand and Venezuela, which have escalated 17 and 11 positions each.

Marginalisation as the roots of conflict

Minority Rights Group warns against the danger of exaggerating the religious dimension of conflicts since the attacks of September 11. Beyond religious ideology, MRG points out that the main basis for conflict lies "in peoples' long-term economic marginalisation and their aspirations for greater autonomy over their own affairs", and that religious lens has allowed governments of every political hue to "become adept at justifying the violent repression of minorities, particularly but not exclusively Muslim minorities, under the banner of the war on terrorism". The report also states that this "suits the agenda of Islamic extremists, who can claim impacts far beyond their often very limited military capacities". Last but not least, MRG warns that "if governments behave as if conflicts are all about religion, then increasingly they become about religion. And once religious divisions become entrenched, conflicts can be much harder to resolve".

Further information:

• Minority Rights Group International: Peoples under Threat 2010