Moscow: The crew from Central Asia is attacked at the construction area, seven people are injured
In the morning of April 20, about dozen of unknown people attacked the crew of workers from Central Asia, residing at the construction area at western side of Moscow, seven people are injured, RIA Novosti reports with the reference to the source in the law enforcement bodies in Russian capital. Interfax informs about two dozens of injured.
According to the source, Caucasian-looking people entered the territory of construction area in the 2 Mosfilm street at about 7am.
"There are citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan among injured. They were hospitalized with various wounds. Five people got gunshot wounds from traumatic pistols and one person got knife injury" the interviewee says. The attackers were able to disappear from the crime scene.
Ferghana.ru was reporting earlier that on April 18 the citizen of Uzbekistan (other data indicates his Tajik citizenship) was killed in the back yard of Butyr prosecutor’s office at Yablochkova street. The witnesses note that three skinhead guys, wearing black jackets, attacked the street cleaner and caused knife injuries, killing the man.
Another murder took place in the week end at Ketcherskaya street: the group of skinhead youngsters, armed with knives, attacked two citizens of Tajikistan. One was killed, another was heavily injured.
According to BBC, on April 20, the birthday of Adolf Hitler, Moscow police is operating under increased readiness state in concern with possible demonstrations, organized by extremist groups. Internal Affairs Ministry of Russia announced that it will suppress any outings of neo-Nazi that have been traditionally celebrating this date through xenophobia-reasoned attacks. According to IAM representative, the additional security measures are taken at the locations of possible meetings of neo-Nazi and resident places of foreign citizens.
Meanwhile, Alexander Brod, the Director of Moscow human rights bureau (MHRB), the skinheads usually organize more attacks one week prior and one week after the birthday of Hitler while there are no accidents on April 20th because of police efforts. According to MHRB, since the beginning of the year there have been 73 xenophobia-based attacks in Russia. As a result, 20 people were killed and more than 70 people got injuries. Mr. Brod believes that skinhead activity has intensified this year, comparing to the year before. "The actions can be motivated by unstable economic situation and general public panic, reasoned by the crisis", Novye izvestiya quotes MHRB Head.
The extremists already promised to organize demonstrations in other days. The day of May 5th can become one of them: allegedly, the retaliation protest is scheduled to this day. Supposedly, the reason is the death of one of neo-Nazi leaders, who committed suicide in the pre-trial detention center on March 30, 2009 after the arrest.