Chechnya: circumstances of mass brawl in a village are investigated

Law enforcement agencies of the republic hold investigation into the mass brawl that burst out in a foothill settlement of the Shali District and resulted in several injured persons, including one militiaman.

As reported earlier by the "Caucasian Knot", on November 27, in the village of Serzhen-Yurt, Shali District, a mass fight with participation of more than 300 local residents burst out. According to local law enforcers, the militia was forced to use firearms to stop the clash. Now, the circumstances are under investigation.

"Last Saturday, in the village of Serzhen-Yurt, Shali District, a domestic violence happened among several local residents. Then, the opposing parties received 'strengthening' from among their relatives and friends," an officer of the Chechen militia told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "On both sides, there were some 300 participants; four of them attacked a local militiaman with baseball bats, trying to seize his service pistol. The arriving militiamen, headed by the head of the ROVD (District Interior Division), had to use weapons to stop the riot."

The source said that militiamen made several warning shots into the air to stop the hot fighting youth crowd. "However, rather than to stop disorders, the fighters began threatening the militiamen that they would take away their firearms; and some even rushed to power agents; after which the ROVD head was forced to open fire for effect. He wounded four assailants in their legs; then, the fighters dispersed and ran home. All four wounded local residents and the injured militiaman were hospitalized," he said.