Russian pogrom against Romani people in the Urals after a murder, more than 40 arrests
On the evening of Thursday, 24 October the town of Korkino in the Russian Urals witnessed violent unrest after a local taxi driver was murdered. Local non-Romani residents attacked a Romani neighborhood and the situation required the deployment of special forces which responded together with other security services. According to Interfax, police arrested more than 40 people. The escalation in tensions was sparked by the murder of a taxi driver, of which a 17-year-old youth is suspected.
The body of the murdered taxi driver, a 40-year-old woman, was found on Wednesday evening. Several stab wounds were discovered on her body, which led detectives to quickly detain two suspects, including a 17-year-old who is now charged with murder. Detectives say he argued with the taxi driver and used a knife to stab her.
The murdered woman is a mother of two who allegedly transported Romani clients frequently, which is why local non-Romani residents assembled on Thursday evening in front of a local shop and proceeded to protest outside the homes of residents in the Romani neighborhood. During the protest, the situation escalated further and grew into an open pogrom, forcing local authorities to send special security units to suppress the violence and restore order.
During the unrest, several people were injured. According to the news portal 74.ru, one resident of the Romani neighborhood, a 58-year-old man, fired a shotgun into the mob of rioters who had assembled outside his home, injuring two men, one age 37 and one age 29. Both were transported to hospital with light injuries that did not affect any important organs. Police arrested the suspected shooter and are investigating him for attempted murder.
The situation was stabilized overnight thanks to police clashing with those participating in the pogrom, arresting a total of 43 people. Currently the town is calm and the local residents who were rioting have returned to their homes. Police remain on alert and are continuing to locally monitor the situation in the streets. Regional authorities are promising to aid the family of the murdered taxi driver and to support her two children, who are currently being cared for by social services.
