An elite school near Moscow became the scene of a tragic event: a 15-year-old student, reportedly expressing neo-Nazi beliefs, fatally stabbed a 10-year-old Tajik boy. The attacker had earlier circulated a manifesto filled with xenophobic and radical ideas inspired by infamous U.S. school shootings to his classmates. On the day of the attack, he wore clothing displaying neo-Nazi symbols and targeted individuals of non-Slavic appearance.
Inside the corridor, he questioned a group of pupils about their nationality and then brutally attacked the Tajik boy, who died instantly. The attacker filmed the assault and posted footage to his Telegram channel. Afterward, he took a student hostage, but police detained him without a raid. According to classmates, the teenager was a withdrawn person with a fascination for neo-Nazi ideology and weapons.
This incident highlights growing problems in Russian society—rising xenophobia, youth militarization, and the normalization of violence. Following the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in March 2024, attacks on migrants in Moscow surged. Official data show a significant rise in racially motivated attacks in 2024, increasingly committed by young people.
Meanwhile, Russian society faces a demographic crisis requiring additional labor, but official rhetoric continues to stoke anti-migrant sentiment. Surveys show less than 1% of Russians support inviting migrants to address demographic issues. Authorities are using hate-based rhetoric to unite society, resulting in youth radicalization and more frequent incidents of violence.
This tragedy underscores that xenophobia, now a public element of Russian discourse, threatens the safety of children and the peaceful lives of migrant families. Experts warn that societal aggression and conflicts are likely to escalate further.
