In the comments to a recent Harry’s Place post, Communist Party of Britain general secretary Robert Griffiths wrote:
To the best of my knowledge, no CPB stall has ever sold an anti-semitic publication, not would it knowingly do so.
When the CPB received regular unsolicited copies of North Star Compass, a “communist” journal produced by ex-members of the Canadian CP, we wrote to them attacking an anti-semitic article in it and asked them to stop posting copies of NSC to us. When a deputy of the Russian Federation CP delivered an anti-semitic speech in the Duma, we protested to that party in the strongest terms.
That’s good, I suppose. But the problem with antisemitism (and ultra-nationalism and homophobia) in the Communist Party of the Russian Federation goes far beyond a single speech in the Duma. And that problem hasn’t prevented the Communist Party of Britain from inviting CPRF activist Yuri Yemelianov to participate in its 21st Century Marxism Festival November 26 and 27 in London.
Griffith’s mention of a CPRF deputy’s antisemitic speech refers to Albert Makashov. The Anti-Defamation League reported in 1998:
As a member of the Duma, the lower house of Parliament, … Makashov has become infamous worldwide for his anti-Semitic outbursts blaming Jews for the country’s economic problems, and advocating the establishment of a quota on the number of Jews allowed in Russia. He has also publicly supported the reinstatement of the Pale of Settlement, territory in which Jews were restricted to live during the 19th century.
Other outrageous pronouncements by… Makashov include an editorial by him in the Russian newspaper Zavtra, printed in October 1998, which stated that a “Yid,” a derogatory term used in Russia to mean Jew, is “a bloodsucker feeding on the misfortunes of other people. They drink the blood of the indigenous peoples of the state; they are destroying industry and agriculture.” He caused the greatest splash later in October when he led two fiery rallies, in Moscow and Samara, commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, which were repeatedly shown on Russian television. At these rallies Makashov angrily shouted “I will round up all the Yids and send them to the next world!”
The Duma has failed to explicitly censure General Makashov for his anti-Semitic remarks, and in particular for his comments calling for death to Jews. In November 1998, the Communist members blocked two different motions to censure the retired General, which had been put forward by the opposition Yabloko party. Rather, the Parliament adopted a vaguely worded resolution, condemning ethnic hatred, with no reference to Jews, anti-Semitism or General Makashov. The Communist party has also failed to condemn General Makashov or to discipline him. Instead, the General has found a number of vocal supporters within his party and among Russia’s many nationalists.In reaction to General Makashov’s October comments and the Duma’s failure to censure him, President Yeltsin requested a statement from Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov regarding his party’s position on anti-Semitism. Mr. Zyuganov’s response reiterated the accusations made by the most anti-Semitic members of his party. In the form of a letter to the Ministry of Justice and the National Security Chief, Zyuganov’s response contained harsh anti-Semitic references reminiscent of the old Soviet era and served only to heighten concerns about anti-Semitism in Russia.
The letter stated open opposition to Zionists, contending that Zionism is among the “most aggressive imperialist circles striving for world domination. In this respect it is related to fascism,” and further asserted that, “Communists…rightly ask how it can be that key positions in a number of economic sectors were seized by representatives of one ethnic group. They see how control over most of the electronic media — which are waging a destructive campaign against our fatherland and its morality, language, culture and beliefs — is concentrated in the hands of those same individuals.” To many, Mr. Zyuganov’s remarks came as no surprise, as he has long been known to use anti-Semitism for political gain.
The website GayRussia reported this year:
Communist Party of Russian Federation is… notoriously homophobic. Its leader Gennady Zyuganov says homosexuality “contradicts to moral values of Russian people”. Communist members of Duma call for re-criminalization of homosexuality in Russia and for ban of family and parental rights of gays and lesbians.
In 2008 UK Gay News reported:
Young homophobic communist Pavel Tarasov, who 18 months ago infamously said that a “good faggot is a dead faggot”, has surfaced as a staffer for Communist presidential candidate Gennady Zyuganov.
As a representative of the communist leader, Mr. Tarasov took part recently in debates between presidential candidates on Russian national TV channel.
He also participated in the anti-gay riots in Moscow during the city’s two Gay Prides in 2006 and last year, helping to disperse gay men and women with a group of young homophobic communists.
Wearing a red T-shirt with communist symbols, Mr. Tarasov was at the head of homophobic mob which shouted on the streets: “Death to faggots!”
In 2006 photographs of Tarasov and his comrades appeared on the Internet against a background of nationalists and Cossacks dispersing LGBT demonstrators.
During last year’s Gay Pride, he appeared again on the Moscow streets with his friends and made homophobic statements in front of the cameras.
Mr. Tarasov has published reports on his anti-gay riots on the official homepage of Youth Communist Union.
I can find no evidence that either Zyuganov or Makashov has ever apologized or renounced his noxious views. That Zyuganov is still the leader of the Russian Communists and plans to run for president of Russia next year should come as no surprise to Robert Griffiths; nor should Albert Makashov’s continued membership in the Duma as a CPRF deputy.
General Secretary Griffiths: Do you consider Zyuganov, Makashov and the other haters in the CPRF to be your comrades? Do you still consider the CPB and the CPRF to be part of the same movement? If not, why have you invited an “activist” from their party to participate in your Marxism Festival? Do you really believe your protest of Makashov’s antisemitism absolves you of further responsibility in the matter?
Or to paraphrase CPB member Andrew Murray on the racist regime in North Korea, have you made your basic position of solidarity with the Russian Communist party clear?
(Hat tip: Ryan)
