Moscow news
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26-Jun-2007
Police taking measure to prevent ethnic clashes in central Moscow
MOSCOW, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - Police are taking measures to prevent possible ethnic clashes in central Moscow, between members of youth organizations and natives of southern republics, city police spokesman Viktor Biryukov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
The calls for mass clashes, ethnic strife and violence keep appearing on a number of Internet forums. "Our information confirms possible attacks by some radically-minded nationalist youth organizations on natives of southern republics and visa versa," Biryukov stated.
The spokesman underlined that "police will act toughly to intercept all the attempts at provocations or violations of the public order, and go as far as open criminal cases against both organizers and activists of actions, as well as against the instigators."
"Moscow is a multi-national, multi-confessional megapolis, which is home for representatives of various ethnic groups, and negative nationalist processes may result in irreparable consequences not only in our city, but in the whole country," the police official said.
In this connection, "preventive measures are being carried out in central Moscow, aimed at identifying the potential instigators of possible illegal actions, both on the part of illegal youth organizations and on the part of nationals from southern republics."
Itar Tass