Russian nationalists march in Moscow

Nationalist demonstrators carry flags and raise their hands in a Nazi salute during a march to mark National Unity Day in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Several thousand Russian nationalists rallied Monday in Moscow, venting against the migrants they accuse of pushing up the crime rate and taking their jobs.

The protest took place on the national holiday of Unity Day, established in 2005 to replace commemorations of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Policeman detain a protester during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 4, 2013.

A nationalist demonstrator wears a masks as others carry a banner reading "Today a Mosque - tomorrow Jihad," during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Nationalist rallies were held in other Russian cities as well, including St. Petersburg, Kazan and Irkutsk.

Nationalist demonstrators shout slogans are others carry a banner that reads "Today a Mosque - tomorrow Jihad" during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Animosity is strong among nationalists against migrants from the former Soviet Central Asian republics and against non-Slavs from the largely Muslim Russian Caucasus region. Central Asian migrants are widely employed in big cities in construction and do other low-paid jobs that Russians are not eager to do.

Nationalist demonstrators carry a banner reading "Today a Mosque - tomorrow Jihad " during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

While some of the onlookers were displeased, other locals said they were supporting the march because of an uncontrolled influx of migrants they have seen in their neighborhoods.

Nationalist demonstrators carry the Russian Empire flag during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Monday's rally came three weeks after rioters targeted a vegetable warehouse where they believed the alleged migrant killer of an ethnic Russian man was working. Police later rounded up more than 1,000 migrants working at the warehouse.

Nationalist demonstrators carry the Russian Empire flag during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

About 30 people were detained at the rally for using Nazi slogans and symbols as well as for other misdemeanors, Moscow police said.

An ultra-nationalist demonstrator shouts slogans during a march to mark National Unity Day in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Members of the banned National Bolshevik Party carry their flags during the march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Nationalist demonstrators carry a banner reading "We demand the start of the visa regime with Caucasus and Central Asia," during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

A U.N. report in September said Russia has about 11 million migrants. Russia is visa-free for all Central Asian republics, so most of the migrant workers are in Russia legally.

Nationalist demonstrators carry banners reading "Russians and Russian power to Russia," during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Policeman detain protesters during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Policeman detain a protester during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.

Nationalist demonstrators carry a banner reading "Today a Mosque - tomorrow Jihad," during a march to mark National Unity Day, in Moscow, Nov. 4, 2013.