Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STPETERSBURG104
2009-08-13 15:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate St Petersburg
Cable title:  

PARATROOPERS DAY COINCIDES WITH APPARENTLY RACIALLY

Tags:  RS PHUM 
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R 131513Z AUG 09
FM AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2822
INFO AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 
AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 
AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ST PETERSBURG 000104 


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: RS PHUM
SUBJECT: PARATROOPERS DAY COINCIDES WITH APPARENTLY RACIALLY
MOTIVATED ATTACKS

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