Natives of Chechnya suspected of an assault at a journalist

Three natives of Chechnya are suspected of an assault at Cyril Panchenko, journalist of "Fontanka" media, at night of October, 1, in the Moscow metro. They were detained by the police and a criminal case was initiated.

Press Service of Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Russia in Moscow reported that at about 23:50, September, 30, a resident of Saint Petersburg appealed to the police for help in "Park Kultury" station. He said that he was beaten up by unknown persons. Medical examination established that he had brain concussion, scratches on his body and cutting wounds on his hands.

On October, 1, the personnel of Department of Interior Affairs detained three residents of Chechnya residing in the capital without registration, aged 20 to 23, upon distinctive marks in "Lenin Library" metro station. "Two of them had scratches and cutting wounds on their hands", Press Service informed.

According to Panchenko, he stood up for a girl, "in reply one of the men struck him on his head, another got a knife and wounded him". The men suspected of participation in the scuffle were taken to police department. There, according to the journalist, the natives of Chechnya started threatening him. Then several tens people came to the building of the Department to support the injured man. After the policemen interrogated Panchenko they took him to the railway station from where he started home, to Saint Petersburg, radio "Echo of Moscow" reports.

According to the investigation, the suspects' involvement in the crime was confirmed by records of security cameras in the metro station. A criminal case was initiated according to clause 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Hooliganism". If the suspects' guilt is proven they may be sentenced to up to seven years of custody, ITAR-TASS reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has yet no comments from the detainees or their attorneys.