Tajiks and Uzbeks organized a mass brawl in St. Petersburg

In the past week, two mass brawls involving migrants from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia occurred in St. Petersburg.

According to Russian media, on August 26 of this year, a mass brawl broke out in the village of Yanino-1 near St. Petersburg between migrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with participants using their hands, feet, and even batons.

According to the investigation, the main reason for the conflict was daily disputes at the construction site. The instigators of the brawl were identified as Tajik migrants aged 22 to 26 years.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against them under Article 213 of the Criminal Code of Russia (Hooliganism). The other 23 participants, including 9 citizens of Tajikistan and 14 citizens of Uzbekistan, were held administratively liable. Additionally, it was revealed that one of the citizens of Uzbekistan was in Russia illegally, and he was placed in a temporary detention center for foreigners pending deportation.

The names of the participants in the brawl and their comments on the matter are not disclosed.

Meanwhile, Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, instructed the regional management to provide a report on the progress of the investigation.

Earlier, on the night of August 21 of this year, the police reported a large brawl in the entrance of one of the residential buildings in St. Petersburg.

It was reported that the conflict initially arose between four people, but neighbors attempting to intervene became involved in the fight themselves.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and detained 35 participants in the scuffle. They identified 29 individuals, including two Russians, eight citizens of Tajikistan, and 19 citizens of Uzbekistan. The only detained woman was a 43-year-old resident who was celebrating her birthday. The oldest detainee was 48 years old, while the youngest was 24.

There is no video surveillance at the scene of the incident. The question of initiating a criminal case is being considered. Information about the injured is being clarified.

These two group brawls involving migrants occur against the backdrop of rising xenophobia and anti-migrant rhetoric.

In the past two years, especially after the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, where the suspects are migrants, there has been a rise in xenophobia and anti-migrant sentiment in Russia. Law enforcement agencies are conducting mass raids on the streets, in hostels, cafes, and markets, where migrants are often treated violently, beaten, and have their work permits or residence permits revoked. This particularly affects citizens from Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan. They are also stripped of their residence permits and even citizenship for evading participation in the war in Ukraine.

Experts believe that mass brawls among migrants and their extensive coverage in the media could significantly worsen the situation.