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Slain Race Expert Girenko's Works Printed

Staff Writer

Two volumes of works by slain St. Petersburg ethnic and racial issue expert Nikolai Girenko, were launched on the first anniversary of his death Monday.

The first volume, "Sociology of Tribe" comprises studies on African tribes as a social form, while the second book, "Ethnicity, Culture, Law" features selected articles on human rights and ethnic issues.

Among the titles are "Violence and Survival Strategies," "Nation and Nationalism: Pro and Contra," "National Minorities in St. Petersburg: conditions of survival," "State and National Minorities" and "Confronting Nazism, Racism and Xenophobia."

The books were published by city publishing house Carillion with a circulation of 500 copies of each volume, to be distributed free of charge. They were launched at the Regional Press Institute.

Girenko was shot through the door of his apartment on June 19 last year. Soon after a nationalistic group claimed on its web site to have ordered his execution. No one has been charged with his death.

His supporters said Monday that Girenko was a talented respected scientist who combined his academic career with intensive human rights activities.

"Whenever we asked him to deliver a lecture or prepare a report thus sometimes putting his own academic career aside, he never refused," said Boris Pustyntsev, head of the local branch of human rights group Citizens' Watch.

Alexander Vinnikov, a senior official at the St. Petersburg Union of Scientists, of which Girenko was a member, and one of the editors of Girenko's books, said the publication of the books was more than a commemorative gesture.

"These books are precious live thoughts. The plans and drafts of books show the direction and serve as an impulse for further research by experts in the future," he said.

A vocal critic of racist and neo-Nazi groups, Girenko had often warned against growing extremism. He regularly provided expert evaluations for criminal investigations and trials involving ethnic issues.

He assisted the city prosecutor's office in several high-profile court cases, including the 2002 murder of Azeri watermelon vendor Mamed Mamedov and an ongoing investigation of a local skinhead group known as Schultz-88.

Governor Valentina Matviyenko had promised to take the investigation under her personal control. No statement followed from the Smolny on Sunday on the occasion of the anniversary.

But Girenko's colleagues are hopeful that the murder will eventually be resolved.

Pustyntsev said his most recent meeting with the investigators three days ago made him think there are good chances of catching the killers.

"The investigators have identified a circle of people who they feel may lead to the organizers of the crime," Pustyntsev said. "This strategy proved useful during the investigation of the murder of [ex-Duma deputy] Galina Starovoitova."

At this point, however, nobody is even trying to predict how long it may take for the killers to be identified.

It took five years to complete the investigation on the Starovoitova murder followed by a trial lasting some 18 months.

Human rights advocates argue the city authorities should also shoulder some of the blame because the killers were able to carry out their vendetta largely because they felt they have a high chance to escape.

"City authorities have long ignored the existence of extremists in the city by portraying their activities as hooliganism," said Yury Vdovin, also from Citizens' Watch.

Vinnikov said Girenko was the country's leading expert on extremism in Russia.

"He fought against prejudice, discrimination and racism but never against people," Vinnikov said Monday. "Even his political opponents, who I feel are ultimately responsible for his murder, he treated without personal respect, confronting ideas, not personalities."

Girenko's circle of colleagues and friends find him irreplaceable and the importance of the loss has only been growing.

"He was like a father for us, and we are still sort of drifting without him," said Tounkara Aliou, president of the African Union in St. Petersburg.

Girenko was at the heart of the foundation of the organization in 2000 and Aliou was his personal friend. Aliou said Monday about 2,000 Africans have made their home in St. Petersburg.

"He not only represented us when some of us applied for a refugee status or a work permit, but brought us together as a united group able to defend its interests," Aliou said. "We miss him very much."

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