17:00, 17 July 2012

MIA: four provocateurs who spread rumours about a large number of flood victims arrested in Krymsk

Four young men have been arrested for violent provocative actions during the meeting of territorial officials with residents of Krymsk, said Igor Zhelyabin, the head of the press service of the Chief Department of the Russian MIA for the Krasnodar Territory.

According to Mr Zhelyabin, the incident occurred on July 16 at the "Rus" Cinema, where deputies of the governor of the Krasnodar Territory held a meeting with flood victims. Four young men appeared at the meeting and began "asking provocative questions," the RBC reports.

"The four young men, who acted under the guise of volunteers, behaved aggressively and provoked a conflict with the Cossacks who maintained the order. One of them struck a Cossack. The provocateurs chanted different statements, including the alleged much greater number of flood victims," Igor Zhelyabin has explained and added that the four young men were sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest each under Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (petty hooliganism).

So far, the "Caucasian Knot" has no comments of the detainees or their representatives.