PARATROOPERS DAY COINCIDES WITH APPARENTLY RACIALLY

UNCLAS ST PETERSBURG 000104 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: RS PHUM SUBJECT: PARATROOPERS DAY COINCIDES WITH APPARENTLY RACIALLY MOTIVATED ATTACKS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Three attacks against ethnic non-Russians took place in the aftermath of the August 2 Paratroopers Appreciation Day in St. Petersburg and its environs, resulting in the death of one man. Law enforcement officials have been reluctant to characterize the attacks as hate crimes, although they appeared to have all the traditional hallmarks of xenophobic violence against foreigners. ¶2. (SBU) Violent outbursts and hooliganism traditionally have accompanied the August 2 celebration of Paratroopers' Day, which is also known as Blue Berets' Day. Historically, St. Petersburg has prepared for the event with a greatly increased police presence on the streets and by warning residents to exercise caution when traveling around the city. The police have generally attempted to avoid interfering with the celebration, and have traditionally been forgiving of rowdy behavior by the paratroopers. ¶3. (SBU) On August 2, according to press accounts, several paratroopers tried to attack an Azeri minibus driver and his friend. According to the press, the paratroopers did not like the fact that the men were not speaking Russian between themselves. There were no serious injuries in the altercation, which police characterized as simple hooliganism. ¶4. (SBU) In the early morning hours of August 3, two Azeri men were hospitalized with serious gunshot wounds. According to a media interview with the victims, a group of paratroopers drove to their apartment building in the northern section of St. Petersburg and opened fire on it. Most of the members of the 25 Azeri families living in the building were able to take shelter from the gunfire, but two were wounded. Police arrived at the scene after the attackers had dispersed, and did not detain any suspects. According to the police, the Azeri residents had provoked the paratroopers in some unspecified fashion, and so the attack could not be classified as a hate crime. ¶5. (SBU) That same night, an Uzbek (or Tajik, according to some press accounts) man from the town of Sertolovo, in Leningrad Oblast, died from knife injuries sustained in an altercation with paratroopers. The victim claimed shortly before he died of his wounds that he and other non-Russian vendors in the Sertolovo market had been attacked by paratroopers on the town's market square. He was able to walk to the local police station where he reported the incident, and died shortly thereafter. ¶6. (SBU) Comment: The events of August 2 seem to confirm the claims of local human rights watchers who believe that the level of ethnic tension around St. Petersburg remains high. Although there were few reported incidents of violence in the city during the celebration of Paratroopers' Day, the commission of three potentially ethnically motivated crimes in its aftermath is cause for concern. As the economic crisis continues, we may see an uptick in similar incidents sparked by local resentment of ethnic minorities, especially guest workers who are often perceived as taking jobs from ethnic Russians. HUBLER