23:01, 22 March 2007

Public prosecutor demands from 2.5 to 5 years of prison for instigators of fight in Kondopoga

Debates of the parties have taken place in the City Court of Kondopoga on Sergey Mozgalyov and Yuri Pliev's criminal case; these defendants were the instigators of the fight at the "Chaika" (Seagull) restaurant. The Office of Public Prosecutor of Karelia has informed that at the session held the day before the prosecutor had demanded to sentence Mozgalyov to 5 years of imprisonment in a strict custody colony, and Pliev - to 2.5 years of deprivation of freedom. Mr. Mozgalyov was presented accusations on Part 2, Article 213, and Part 2, Article 116, of the Criminal Code of Russia (hooliganism and bodily blows), and Pliev - on the former Article only.

The defence has declared the absence of any hooliganism motive in the actions of the defendants.

Last August, a mass fight burst out in the Karelian city of Kondopoga in the "Chaika" restaurant between local residents and natives from North Caucasus, during which two persons were killed. Due to the pogroms that took place soon after, the members of national minorities, including the Chechen Diaspora, left Kondopoga.