YAKUTSK, Russia -- Police in the Sakha-Yakutia region of Russia have detained a group of suspects accused of attacking migrants from Central Asia following the arrest of a Kyrgyz man suspected of rape, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported Wednesday (March 20).
Police in the regional capital, Yakutsk, did not disclose the number of detained suspects. They urged residents not to incite ethnic hatred.
Tensions flared in Yakutsk, 4,900km east of Moscow, after police Sunday (March 17) announced the arrest of a 23-year-old Kyrgyz man accused of raping a local woman Saturday (March 16).
About 200 protesters in downtown Yakutsk March 17 demanded the deportation of all Central Asian migrant workers. About 5,000 protesters Monday (March 18) rallied in a stadium to denounce the crime.
A high-level Kyrgyz delegation March 18 discussed the situation with regional and local officials.
Officials will inspect all companies employing migrant labour to make sure they are not employing illegal workers, said Yakutsk Mayor Sardana Avksentyeva Tuesday (March 19).
Sakha-Yakutia has about 1 million residents. They include about 30,000 Kyrgyz citizens, according to Avksentyeva.
Tension between Russian citizens and Central Asian migrant workers exists in cities throughout Russia.
And what if Russians are attacked in Central Asia?
ReplyThen our law enforcement would detain them
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