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RUSSIAN TV PROBES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT MOSCOW NIGHT CLUBS
Ren TV, Moscow
10 May 06
[Presenter Vitaliy Buzuyev] Russia declares freedom for all
nationalities, but in reality it is turning back to the past
and, to some extent, it recalls the USA in the 1960s. A private
rule is implemented in many night clubs in Moscow to allow only
European-looking people in. Yelena Karpukhina reports on discrimination
Russian style.
[Correspondent] Metal detectors, document checks and handbag searches
are a common occurrence for night club visitors. Even a body search
does not embarrass anyone. But a visitor finds it is offending all the
same to be turned away because of their face, but not their passport.
Although there is a face control sign at the entrance, in some cases
this sign can be translated more precisely: Whites only.
David is 22 and he likes to have fun. But despite having higher
education, a prestigious job, registration in Moscow and money he
cannot have access to the night life. We went [to a night club]
together with him to prove this.
We have switched a secret camera on. This is a Friday evening. David,
with his girlfriend and a friend, who is also an Armenian, are going
to dance.
[Unidentified male voice, presumably belongs to a security man] Guys,
we will not let you in without a club card today.
[David] Today?
[Male voice] Today, for sure. I don't know what the administration's
orders will be next time.
[David] Why? Don't you like how we look?
[Male voice] No, just because we are having a birthday party today
and there are a lot of people here.
[Correspondent] At the same time, European-looking visitors are getting
in freely and no one is asking for their club cards. The next club
is located 20 metres away from the first one. The story is repeated.
[Security man] We do not explain reasons for a refusal.
[David Davtyan, captioned as economist] When we arrive [at a club]
we are given a fairly logical explanation. This is either a club
card or a birthday party or something of this sort. Of course,
this is explicable, but when this happens each day and each time,
this becomes not a coincidence, but a regularity.
[Correspondent] Pasha Face Control [nickname] knows everything about
such regularities. He is the most famous club security guy in Moscow.
Pasha's task is to detect unwanted guests at the first glance. The
criterion of unsuitability is determined by the owner. The rejection
formulae are prearranged.
[Pasha Face Control, captioned as club security] Some owners require
us to give less access to people from the Caucasus. They explain that
these people cause many problems. The standard answer is a birthday
or a corporate party.
[Correspondent] The question of nationality is a sensitive topic
for people from the Caucasus, Latin America, Africa and Asia, or
just for dark-skinned citizens. Cuban nationals Enrique, Alfredo and
(?Caridad) are professional dancers. They take part in shows and give
Latino dance classes for beginners.
Regular customers love them, but they are immediately reminded that
they are foreigners when they go out to have fun anywhere else.
[Enrique, captioned as dancer, speaking Spanish with simultaneous
Russian translation] Once we went to a club with my Russian friends.
The friends were allowed in, but I was not. They said that I was a
foreigner. We had to find another place.
[Carlos, captioned as student] When that happened to me the first
time, honestly, I regretted having come to Russia. We like hanging
out and we never intend to do anything terrible at a discotheque.
This is real discrimination.
[Correspondent] While other clubs harshly turn down people having
dark skin and hair, this club always welcomes them. The owners of
this club understand that southerners, with their body language and
temperament, turn on all the people on the dance floor. Many women
come here only for the sake of them.
Most people present here have heard that blacks cause problems. But
there have not been any conflicts on nationalist grounds on this
dance floor, although it is coloured in all senses.
[Armen Grigoryan, captioned as club promoter] You can see people of
all nationalities there: a Hindu, a Jewish person or a Chinese.
Everyone has equal fun when they get drunk.
[Angelina, captioned as student] I have many dark-skinned friends
from various countries. They dance very well, especially the guys
from Latin America.
[Correspondent] Those whom some white people refer to as coloured
are not seeking any additional trouble. They just will not return to
a club where they have once been turned away. But Moscow is losing
its attractiveness for foreigners each year. They say that it would
be fairer to put up real signs on club's doors. For example: "Whites
only" or "No entry to blacks and dogs".
Ren TV, Moscow
10 May 06
[Presenter Vitaliy Buzuyev] Russia declares freedom for all
nationalities, but in reality it is turning back to the past
and, to some extent, it recalls the USA in the 1960s. A private
rule is implemented in many night clubs in Moscow to allow only
European-looking people in. Yelena Karpukhina reports on discrimination
Russian style.
[Correspondent] Metal detectors, document checks and handbag searches
are a common occurrence for night club visitors. Even a body search
does not embarrass anyone. But a visitor finds it is offending all the
same to be turned away because of their face, but not their passport.
Although there is a face control sign at the entrance, in some cases
this sign can be translated more precisely: Whites only.
David is 22 and he likes to have fun. But despite having higher
education, a prestigious job, registration in Moscow and money he
cannot have access to the night life. We went [to a night club]
together with him to prove this.
We have switched a secret camera on. This is a Friday evening. David,
with his girlfriend and a friend, who is also an Armenian, are going
to dance.
[Unidentified male voice, presumably belongs to a security man] Guys,
we will not let you in without a club card today.
[David] Today?
[Male voice] Today, for sure. I don't know what the administration's
orders will be next time.
[David] Why? Don't you like how we look?
[Male voice] No, just because we are having a birthday party today
and there are a lot of people here.
[Correspondent] At the same time, European-looking visitors are getting
in freely and no one is asking for their club cards. The next club
is located 20 metres away from the first one. The story is repeated.
[Security man] We do not explain reasons for a refusal.
[David Davtyan, captioned as economist] When we arrive [at a club]
we are given a fairly logical explanation. This is either a club
card or a birthday party or something of this sort. Of course,
this is explicable, but when this happens each day and each time,
this becomes not a coincidence, but a regularity.
[Correspondent] Pasha Face Control [nickname] knows everything about
such regularities. He is the most famous club security guy in Moscow.
Pasha's task is to detect unwanted guests at the first glance. The
criterion of unsuitability is determined by the owner. The rejection
formulae are prearranged.
[Pasha Face Control, captioned as club security] Some owners require
us to give less access to people from the Caucasus. They explain that
these people cause many problems. The standard answer is a birthday
or a corporate party.
[Correspondent] The question of nationality is a sensitive topic
for people from the Caucasus, Latin America, Africa and Asia, or
just for dark-skinned citizens. Cuban nationals Enrique, Alfredo and
(?Caridad) are professional dancers. They take part in shows and give
Latino dance classes for beginners.
Regular customers love them, but they are immediately reminded that
they are foreigners when they go out to have fun anywhere else.
[Enrique, captioned as dancer, speaking Spanish with simultaneous
Russian translation] Once we went to a club with my Russian friends.
The friends were allowed in, but I was not. They said that I was a
foreigner. We had to find another place.
[Carlos, captioned as student] When that happened to me the first
time, honestly, I regretted having come to Russia. We like hanging
out and we never intend to do anything terrible at a discotheque.
This is real discrimination.
[Correspondent] While other clubs harshly turn down people having
dark skin and hair, this club always welcomes them. The owners of
this club understand that southerners, with their body language and
temperament, turn on all the people on the dance floor. Many women
come here only for the sake of them.
Most people present here have heard that blacks cause problems. But
there have not been any conflicts on nationalist grounds on this
dance floor, although it is coloured in all senses.
[Armen Grigoryan, captioned as club promoter] You can see people of
all nationalities there: a Hindu, a Jewish person or a Chinese.
Everyone has equal fun when they get drunk.
[Angelina, captioned as student] I have many dark-skinned friends
from various countries. They dance very well, especially the guys
from Latin America.
[Correspondent] Those whom some white people refer to as coloured
are not seeking any additional trouble. They just will not return to
a club where they have once been turned away. But Moscow is losing
its attractiveness for foreigners each year. They say that it would
be fairer to put up real signs on club's doors. For example: "Whites
only" or "No entry to blacks and dogs".