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ArmenPress
April 23 2004
ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN RACIAL MANIFESTATIONS IN RUSSIA
AGAINST ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS: Several Armenian non-governmental
and human rights organizations reacted today strongly to a media
report that a 10-year-old Armenian boy was set on fire as a result of
an apparent racist attack in the northern Russian city of Kostroma,
reportedly by a group of so-called "skinheads."
In a statement addressed to the Russian embassy in Yerevan and
Armenian foreign ministry, issued today, they say the Kostroma
incident was not the first and "judging from alarming reports from
Russia not the last one."
Eyewitnesses told the police in Kostroma that two friends, aged 10
and 11 had dropped into a grocery store after classes. A group of
youths was apparently waiting for them outside. As the boys came out
of the shop, the attackers splashed gasoline over one of them and set
him on fire. Luckily, some passers-by helped the boy and quickly
extinguished the fire. He was then rushed to hospital. Doctors said
the boy had burns to his face and hands. The attackers fled the
scene.
"We deeply regret and are indignant that such racist
manifestations are ignored by Russian law-enforcement forces and
authorities, which seek to explain pogroms, murders and other
racially-motivated crimes by routine reasons," the statement says,
adding that nothing of that kind is possible in Armenia. "It is
beyond the boundaries of imagination to think of an Armenian that
would plan to torch a Russian or any other non-Armenian child," the
statement says.
The undersigned organizations say they do not think it will
require huge efforts of the Russian authorities to root out all
fascist and other racial groupings. "If this does not happen we are
inclined to believe that Russian authorities do not desire to do so,"
the statement says, adding also that a chain of such incidents across
Russia suggests that these actions are planned and coordinated.
The undersigned organizations say they will be consistent in
identifying every such instance, especially those which are targeting
ethnic Armenians in Russia.
April 23 2004
ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN RACIAL MANIFESTATIONS IN RUSSIA
AGAINST ARMENIANS
YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS: Several Armenian non-governmental
and human rights organizations reacted today strongly to a media
report that a 10-year-old Armenian boy was set on fire as a result of
an apparent racist attack in the northern Russian city of Kostroma,
reportedly by a group of so-called "skinheads."
In a statement addressed to the Russian embassy in Yerevan and
Armenian foreign ministry, issued today, they say the Kostroma
incident was not the first and "judging from alarming reports from
Russia not the last one."
Eyewitnesses told the police in Kostroma that two friends, aged 10
and 11 had dropped into a grocery store after classes. A group of
youths was apparently waiting for them outside. As the boys came out
of the shop, the attackers splashed gasoline over one of them and set
him on fire. Luckily, some passers-by helped the boy and quickly
extinguished the fire. He was then rushed to hospital. Doctors said
the boy had burns to his face and hands. The attackers fled the
scene.
"We deeply regret and are indignant that such racist
manifestations are ignored by Russian law-enforcement forces and
authorities, which seek to explain pogroms, murders and other
racially-motivated crimes by routine reasons," the statement says,
adding that nothing of that kind is possible in Armenia. "It is
beyond the boundaries of imagination to think of an Armenian that
would plan to torch a Russian or any other non-Armenian child," the
statement says.
The undersigned organizations say they do not think it will
require huge efforts of the Russian authorities to root out all
fascist and other racial groupings. "If this does not happen we are
inclined to believe that Russian authorities do not desire to do so,"
the statement says, adding also that a chain of such incidents across
Russia suggests that these actions are planned and coordinated.
The undersigned organizations say they will be consistent in
identifying every such instance, especially those which are targeting
ethnic Armenians in Russia.