A/HRC/4/19/Add.3 page 9 main policies and programmes reported to him by the Federal and local authorities (section II) and the issues and concerns presented by the civil society and communities concerned (section III). Thereafter, the Special Rapporteur presents his assessment and analysis of the state of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the Russian Federation (section IV) and concludes with his recommendations (section V). II. POLITICAL AND LEGAL STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES A. The legal framework to combat racism and racial discrimination 15. In the view of most governmental officials, the Russian legal framework contains a wide range of instruments which provide a very solid and comprehensive basis to combat manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. 16. The 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation, in addition to the above-mentioned provision outlawing discrimination on the grounds of social, racial, linguistic or religious grounds (art. 19), prohibits the establishment of associations and the use of propaganda or campaigns aiming at the incitement of social, racial, national and religious strife (arts. 13 (5) and 29 (2)). 17. The 1997 Criminal Code establishes the general principle that motives of national, racial or religious hatred or enmity constitute an aggravating circumstance leading to an increase in the severity of the penalty (art. 63 (1)). Specific provisions in this regard are found in the case of murder (art. 105), intentional infliction of bodily harm - whether grave (art. 111) or moderate (art. 112) - and infliction of physical or mental suffering (art. 117). Following an amendment made in 2003, the Code makes explicit reference to the prohibition of discrimination, defined as violations of rights, freedoms and lawful interests of individuals and citizens on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, language, origin, residence or religion (art. 136). Particularly relevant is the prohibition of actions committed in public or through the use of mass media aiming at the incitement of national, racial or religious enmity, abasement of human dignity or propagating exclusion, superiority or inferiority of citizens on national, racial or religious grounds (art. 282). This provision was amended by the Federal Act on Counteracting Extremist Activities by adding the offence of organizing or being member of an extremist organization. It is worth mentioning in this context a provision of the Criminal Code regarding acts of hooliganism defined as a “gross violation of the public order which expresses patent disrespect for society, accompanied by the use of violence against private persons or by the threat of its use, and likewise by the destruction or damage of other people’s property” (art. 213). 18. The Federal Act on Counteracting Extremist Activities provides a definition of extremism which encompasses the activities of public and religious associations, mass media or individuals consisting of organizing, carrying out or funding acts aimed at inciting national, racial, religious and social discord associated with violence or calls for violence; the humiliation of national dignity; bringing about large-scale disorder, hooligan acts and acts of vandalism for reasons of ideological, political, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity; and the advocacy of exclusivity, either superiority or inferiority of citizens, on the grounds of their social, racial, religious, national and linguistic origin. In addition, it prohibits the propaganda and public