A/HRC/4/19/Add.3 page 20 skinheads in St. Petersburg. The majority of those cases remain unreported, given the general mistrust towards the police, rather associated with inadequate protection, arbitrary identity checks, harassment and corruption than with protection and law enforcement. 56. Human rights organizations expressed utmost concern at what they viewed as an increasing trend of forced housing evictions of Roma communities throughout the Federation, often accompanied by use of violence and racist language. The Special Rapporteur’s attention was brought to the demolition campaigns carried out by Russian authorities in the region of Kaliningrad over the past two years, preceded by anti-Roma discourse by local politicians and the media. A particularly striking case was the demolition of 40 Roma homes in the village of Dorozhny from 29 May to 2 June 2006, resulting in the eviction of more than 200 Roma. These demolitions were reportedly preceded by highly criticized court procedures declaring Roma housing illegal and requesting Roma to leave their homes. On 3 November 2006, human rights organizations brought the case to the European Court of Human Rights, accusing authorities of demolishing the homes, separating families and forcing the victims to find makeshift shelter, thereby violating, inter alia, their right to life, non-discrimination, protection against inhuman treatment, and enjoyment of their home, private and family life, as well as freedom from interference with their possessions.19 Discrimination against foreigners: the case of the African community 57. During the times of the Soviet Union, thousands of African students received scholarships to study in higher education institutions throughout the country. Today, among the foreign student community, it is with no doubt African students who currently suffer most from racism, xenophobia and discrimination. Very serious cases affecting students from Asia, Latin America and the Middle East - sometimes including the death of the victim - have also been registered. 58. During the mission, the Special Rapporteur held meetings with African students and their representatives, with Africans who have long lived in the country and have even acquired Russian nationality, and with representatives of the African diplomatic community. All testimonies had a recurrent and grave story of racism and discrimination to tell, as they all had, to a lesser or higher degree, been victims of manifestations, ranging from insults, intimidation, harassment, discrimination in the employment and housing sectors, and particularly in recent years, acts of physical aggression, including with the use of weapons, by neo-Nazi groups. In 2002, diplomats from 37 African States appealed to the Foreign Ministry for the provision of protection for their citizens. The Special Rapporteur was particularly alarmed by the feeling of permanent fear and profound isolation that characterized the majority of the testimonies he received. 19 Application by the Open Society Justice Initiative at http://www.justiceinitiative.org/db/ resource2?res_id=103464