42 nationalist marchers arrested in Volgograd

Law enforcement authorities of Volgograd have stopped an attempt of nationalist-minded youth to hold a march in the city centre on December 18. 193 would-be participants were detained. No retaliatory actions by the members of the Caucasian Diaspora were registered.

Power agents of the Volgograd Region held a preliminary check on the Internet of a number of websites and social networks, which place information about possible unauthorized actions under nationalist slogans.

"With the aim to prevent illegal and non-sanctioned actions, we strengthened security measures in public places in the city of Volgograd," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told at the press service of the GUVD (Chief Interior Department) of the Volgograd Region.

According to the press service, the militia was put into strengthened service regime in the region. On December 18, about 700 militiamen were engaged in maintaining order in Volgograd. Fighters of the OMON (special militia) unit named "Stalingrad" were also involved.

The press-service has also reported that on December 18 in the Tsentralny District of the city a group of youngsters tried to hold an unauthorized march. Some of them hid their faces under medical masks and scarves and chanted nationalistic slogans. They tried to unfold some banner.

"They kill Russians, while the authorities are passive and cover up the crimes by releasing criminals. They are dancing their lezginka here in squares, pushing around and raping our girls. That's why I'm here. I protest against the dominance of uninvited guests from the Caucasus," one of the young marchers, who refused to name him, gave this explanation to his presence in the column.

"There was a lot of mess on the Internet about the would-be action under the slogan 'Nationalism is not fascism!'," said a passer-by who photographed the action (he also refused to present himself). "In principle, this topic is relevant in view of recent events in Manege Square and throughout Russia."

Law enforcement officers of the city detained 193 participants of the unsanctioned action and brought them to the interior division. Banners with nationalist slogans and masks were confiscated from the detainees. Some of them were in the state of intoxication. There were previously convicted guys among them.

"Every third detainee is a pupil or student of Volgograd schools, vocational colleges and universities," said the GUVD press service. "Experts of the Administration of the Volgograd Region, responsible for working with adolescents and youth, were attracted to deal with the detainees."

Now, the Volgograd law enforcement agencies are working towards revealing the organizers of the unauthorized action. The persons who took part in it have been brought to justice. 42 persons were put under administrative arrest for 2-15 days by the court decision.

According to the press service, there were no rough violations of public order, interethnic conflicts or disruptions of public transport. During the suppression of unauthorized actions, nobody suffered.

On the eve of the march - on December 17 - rumours circulated in the city that the Caucasian Diasporas of Volgograd were preparing retaliatory actions. But, according to unconfirmed reports, the authorities managed to convince their leaders not to succumb to provocations. Nevertheless, in the central city the correspondent saw two groups of Caucasians and managed to talk with some of them.

"Our grandfathers stood here, shoulder to shoulder with other nationalities of Russia, defending the city from the Nazis. And now their grandchildren are against us. It's not fair. It's fascism," said Niyaz Vagabov, a higher school student in Volgograd.

"There are criminals among any nation. Why should you accuse the whole people?" said Anity Makhmudov.