Russian and Ukrainian tourists fight on quiet resorts

In Russia, social networks and mass media outlets actively discuss news reports about a brawl between Russian and Ukrainian tourists in a Turkish hotel. Facebook users claim that the fight was massive. The participants of the fight were supposedly using beach beds and chairs. Representatives of the Turkish side say that the police registered no conflicts.

The footage taken by surveillance cameras of a hotel in Kemer, Turkey, shows a group of guests fighting over something. The reason of the conflict is impossible to establish, although users of social networks post emotional messages about the details of the fight.

"The confrontation between the Ukrainians and the Russians came to quiet Turkish hotels. My younger brother is in Kemer in Turkey. Most tourists in the hotel are Russians, Ukrainians and some Turks. All was quiet, but last night, after dinner, a group of people from Kiev started screaming insults - "Muscovites to guillotines" for which they immediately had their a**** kicked by the guys from St. Petersburg," a user wrote on Facebook.

It was also said that the tourists used beach beds and chairs and even tried to drown their opponents in the pool. However, both officials at the Russian Consulate General Office in Antalya and representatives of the Turkish police denied the information.

Yet, similar stories continue to multiply online.

"My friends returned from holidays in Egypt, and there were Ukrainians staying in that hotel with them. After 3 days of holidays, a fight broke out between a group of Russians from Tula, Murmansk and Yekaterinburg with the copped (Ukrainians). The Ukrainians started it: they were grinning the whole night and saying phrases insulting the Russians," another user wrote.

Specialists of tourist counseling services say that such conflicts can be difficult to avoid. After all, politics is usually just an excuse for those, who want to spark a conflict.

"These conflicts speak of a low intellectual level. We all discuss politics and we are all indifferent to the situation in Ukraine. There is a civil war going on there, and if people could understand that with their hearts and minds, they would only show compassion, not aggression," a psychologist said.

Yet, there are people in Europe, who believe that tourism is very close to big politics. "Relationships with Russians on resorts aggravate" - the heading of the Dutch version of The Telegraph said. Travel Industry experts say that the level of enmity between tourists from Russia and Holland has been growing lately. The publication wrote with reference to a tourist company that many Russians prefer not to spend their vacations in the countries that criticize Russia's foreign policy.

The Ukrainians alter their tourist routes most. Many Ukrainian tourists request a hotel, where the concentration of Russian tourists would be minimal.

"In Montenegro, I was once again convinced that the hatred of Russians sits in them hard. All people on the beach were friendly, many would chat to each other  - people from all countries, and only the Ukrainians were hissing in a corner, saying that they were so fed up with Russians, who teach their children to swim the wrong way, who laugh the wrong way, and so forth, although all people were quiet on the beach," a user wrote on Facebook.

Many Ukrainian publications post the story from a Ukrainian tourist, who wrote a message from "Russia-occupied Egypt."  The woman wrote a story of how the Ukrainian tourists were mocking the Russians, who wore Ribbons of St. George on Victory Day. The Ukrainians sang the infamous song about the Russian president, vesti.ru reports.

"And I can tell you that the Russians know this hit song well! We were singing this song at night on the balcony out loud, and it was awesome!" the woman wrote on her blog.

One should never react to such provocations, psychologists recommend.

"If you're being getting involved into a conflict, remember that participation in this conflict is always against you and your reputation, sometimes finances and freedom, - psychotherapist, member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Alexander Tesler warns. - If someone is provoking you, just stand up and leave. Conducting discussions with strangers on conflicting, provocative subjects is beneath your dignity."

Pravda.Ru