Suspected mastermind of Tsaritsyno pogrom indicted

According to the prosecutor's office of Moscow's Southern Administrative District, a mass disturbance in Moscow’s Tsaritsyno neighbourhood was masterminded by Mikhail Volkov, 19. He is accused of hooliganism and the use of arms or things which could be used as arms (article 213 section 3 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code). The article envisages 4 to 7 years in prison. According to investigators, it was exactly the unemployed Mr. Volkov who had prepared metal rods and provided teenagers with them, Also, charges had been brought against three under-aged persons, two of which are also under arrest. On the evening of October 30, 250 to 300 teenagers started a fierce fight near Tsaritsyno metro station beating outdoor vendors, mostly having the appearance of Caucasus residents. Police tried to stop the violence by shooting in the air. The skinheads then moved to the metro where they continued to beat innocent people. Killed in the slaughter were 3 persons, 23 received injuries. Among the victims to the incident are residents of Armenia, India and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the investigators’ arguments sound a bit weak: how could a snotty youngster bring to the market place this heap of rods to arms 200 hooligans turned “ultra-nationalists.” It looks like the investigators are inclined to explore a “loner theory.”

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2001/11/22/34085.html