Saint Peterburg: Xenophobic Demonstrations

The atmosphere was ugly this week-end in Saint Petersburg, where hundreds of demonstrators, dressed in black, participated in a march "against illegal immigration”, called by a tiny extremist group, the “Russian Movement against Illegal Migrations”, and permitted by the authorities.

The marchers wanted to show their support to the town of Kondopoga, Karelia, where numerous similar demonstrations have taken place since the end of August, as well as attacks targeted at Caucasian shops, after the murder of two Russians was attributed to Chechen elements. There was already violence in Saint Petersburg the week before when it turned into a full brawl. Numerous xenophobic attacks have taken place these last few months in this city, home to several thousand foreign students. An Indian student, who was attacked last Sunday near the Medical School, died of his wounds.