A/61/335 discrimination and xenophobia in the country, in particular in light of the multiple incidents of racial and xenophobic violence reported by human rights organizations and by the national and international press. Another objective of this visit was to monitor and analyse one of the deep-rooted causes of the renewed upsurge in racism and xenophobia in many countries: the change from the multiculturalism of Soviet society, marked by the ideological multiculturalism of the “friendship of peoples”, and current society. This mission will be the subject of an exhaustive report to be submitted to the fourth session of the Human Rights Council. 57. The visit took place in excellent material and logistical conditions owing to the openness and cooperation of the Russian authorities, non-governmental organizations and the communities concerned. The Special Rapporteur visited Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where he met representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, representatives of the Orthodox Church, leaders of civil society organizations, and direct victims of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia. He also visited a Roma community near Saint Petersburg. 58. At the end of the visit, the Special Rapporteur shared his preliminary conclusions at a press conference. First, he pointed out that there was no official racist policy in the Russian Federation. He underlined, however, the existence of a marked tendency of racism and xenophobia in Russian society, which centres around the following factors: the upsurge in racist incidents, in which the degree of violence leads to murder in some cases; the extension of this violence to members of human rights organizations; the inaction of certain police services and legal agencies and, as a result, the existence of a certain measure of impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators of these acts; the activism of neo-Nazi groups; and the existence of racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic political platforms. The Special Rapporteur noted, among the deep-rooted causes of this rise in racist and xenophobic ideology and violence, the ideological context of a political nationalism that is the subject of an ethnic interpretation by extreme right groups and trends. 59. Among his preliminary recommendations, he highlighted the importance of official recognition of the increase of racism and xenophobia and of the expression of a strong political will on the part of the Government to combat it; the implementation of a national programme of action against racism and xenophobia, with the democratic participation of all national communities and human rights organizations; the strengthening of the legal and judiciary systems for punishing the perpetrators of the manifestations and acts of racist violence; and the link between efforts to combat racism and xenophobia and the building of an interactive egalitarian and democratic multiculturalism. In that regard, a cultural and intellectual strategy is needed in order to eradicate the profound roots of racism. 60. The Special Rapporteur will submit a detailed report on his visit to the Human Rights Council, including precise recommendations on the basis of information gathered and additional information that he requested from governmental institutions, civil society and the communities concerned. III. Conclusions and recommendations 61. The General Assembly is invited to draw the attention of Member States to the alarming signs of a retreat in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia as a result of two serious developments: the 20 06-51904