Fight at Khovanskoye cemetery caused by domestic conflict, defendants assert

In Moscow, the mass fight at the Khovanskoye cemetery could be caused by a domestic conflict initiated by one of the defendants in the criminal case and natives of Tajikistan, who illegally worked there. This version was voiced by advocates of the suspects.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 14, a mass fight involving 200-500 people occurred at the Khovanskoye cemetery. Three persons were killed, and 26 others were injured. Natives of Chechnya and Dagestan are suspected of the organization and involvement in the fight.

According to the newspaper "Kommersant", the conflict occurred, since natives of Tajikistan failed to present good work on cleaning the grave of a relative of one of the suspects. He refused to pay for the work of poor quality, and on the other day, he found the grave of his relative even in worse state. The man called his friends, fond of art of self-defence (known as Sambo), to come to the cemetery.

It is assumed that a group of men, fond of Sambo, decided to impose a tribute on the Tajik Diaspora engaged in illegal business at the cemetery or to force them to leave the territory. In response to the threats, migrants called several hundred of their countrymen, armed with metal bars and shovels, the newspaper "Izvestia" reports.

On May 17, the Presnya Court of Moscow ruled to arrest Alexander Merezhko, Arthur Khadjikhanov, and Elikhan Yakhyaev.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.