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Ethnic riots hit Russian town

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Hundreds of Caucasus natives have fled the northern Russian town of Kondopoga after large-scale ethnic riots targeting businesses owned by Chechens and Azeris.

The riots broke out in the town of 40,000 over the weekend after three ethnic Russians were killed in a restaurant brawl with natives of Azerbaijan and Chechnya.

Following the incident hundreds of local Russian youths took to the streets, burning and looting kiosks and restaurants owned by Caucasians. A rally of local residents demanded that authorities evict all Caucasians from the town.

The violence continued for two days until extra police forced rushed to Kondopoga restored order by Monday.

Police officers said that practically all Caucasus natives numbering several hundred had left the town. Region's head Sergei Katanandov vowed to prosecute all those guilty and said the Chechen community had surrendered to police three of its members suspected of killing the Russian men.

The riots in Kondopoga reflect a rising wave of racial intolerance in Russia against Caucasians and other non-Russians who dominate local trade business.

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