Russia Detains Extremists In Connection With Tajik Girl's Murder

Khursheda Sultonova (center), with her mother (left) and cousins, was killed on February 9, 2004, in St. Petersburg (Courtesy Photo) May 24, 2006 -- Police in St. Petersburg have detained eight members of an extremist group suspected of involvement in a series of racist murders, and possible involvement in the 2004 stabbing death of Khursheda Sultanova, a 9-year-old Tajik girl.
St. Petersburg's chief prosecutor Sergei Zaitsev said the group was found in possession of firearms, explosives, and a lot of extremist literature.


(AP, RIA Novosti)

Epidemic Of Hate

Epidemic Of Hate

Yusuf Sultonov, whose 9-year-old daughter was beaten and stabbed to death in St. Petersburg on February 9, 2004 (TASS)

EXTREMISM ASCENDANT: More than half of Russians have xenophobic views, according to a report published in August 2005. In the report, rights groups say that -- despite progress in some areas -- racism, xenophobia, and anti-Semitism remain rife in Russia. But what worries watchdogs most are recent moves by nationalist-patriotic movements to form paramilitary groups....(more)


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