Injuries, arrests as fans clash with police in Moscow - Summary

Sat, 11 Dec 2010

Moscow - Nineteen people were injured and 65 arrested when clashes erupted between football fans and riot police in central Moscow on Saturday, reports said.

The Ria Novosti state news agency quoted Russian authorities as saying clashes broke out at a rally not far from the Red Square in Moscow while there were also clashes in St Petersburg.

Police detained 65 fans in Moscow and 60 in St Petersburg, it was reported.

Around 5,000 fans young people had gathered in Moscow for an unsanctioned demonstration in memory of a fellow supporter, Yegor Sviridov, who was shot dead during a recent fight in the city between fans and migrants from the North Caucasus region.

After police called on the protesters to disperse, they responded by shouting nationalist slogans and attacking passers-by who appeared to be members of ethnic minorities from the Caucasus, a police spokesman said.

Riot police used batons against the demonstrators, while television pictures showed police coming under attack by fans throwing stones, bottles, fireworks, smoke bombs and even parts of the city Christmas tree.

Clashes continued in the metro after fans attacked train passengers at one station because of their "non-Slavic appearance," it was reported.

There were also clashes in St Petersburg where about 2,000 protesters ignored police demands to disperse.

Earlier in the day, around 6,000 Spartak Moscow fans gathered at the bus stop where Sviridov was killed to lay flags at a makeshift memorial.

According to Russian media reports, Sviridov was a member of the Spartak Ultras, a group linked to fan violence in the past.

Commentators say the recent violence and ethnic tension around football raises security concerns for the 2018 World Cup after Russia was awarded the tournament last week.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/357707,police-moscow-summary.html.