Murder of Egor Sviridov
Encyclopedia
Murder of Egor Sviridov refers to FC Spartak Moscow
fan's death in a clash between two groups of youth, one of which was composed of recent migrants from Russia
's North Caucasus
republics. The affair took place on December 6, 2010, at Kronstadt boulevard in the north of Moscow
. Sviridov's death provoked a number of high-profile rallies and rioting in the capital as well as in Saint Petersburg
, Rostov-on-Don
and other cities across Russia.
in 1999. In 2004, he graduated from Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute. From 2004 he worked as an engineer and surveyor. Egor Sviridov was a prominent member of Fratria
fan group of FC Spartak Moscow
More than 10 people were involved in the conflict between fans of FC Spartak Moscow
and natives of the North Caucasus
. Most of them were released. This is what sparked much of the rage of the Spartak fans, the suspected killer and his friends were released and rumoured to have done so through bribing the police. It has now come to light that Aslan Cherkesov, who fired the bullets that killed Sviridov, was convicted in 2009 of grievous bodily harm and narcotic possession, which carry severe penalties in Russia. Despite this, he appears to have avoided jail, which has given further weight to the allegations of bribery and criminality. Further anger was caused by the fact that the killing mirrored that of journalist Yuri Volkov. Also a Spartak Moscow fan, Volkov and his friends were attacked by a gang of Chechen men in July 2010. The suspected killer was released by the police with no charge. Official statements said lack of evidence was the reason, but there were open claims that the police had been bribed by important members of the powerful Chechen diaspora.
Despite Cherkesov and his gang claiming to be acting in self defence, witnesses state that it was they who actually initiated the brawl, as well as outnumbering the Russian Spartak fans 8 to 5. Sviridov and his friends were by a bus stand, waiting for a taxi to arrive. The Russian men were laughing and joking amongst themselves when the Caucasian group, passing by, confronted them and accused them of laughing at them.
The Caucasian gang then launched a brutal attack. Not only did they outnumber Sviridov and his group, many of them also appeared to be trained wrestlers or cagefighters, and the Russian men who were not shot suffered serious injuries. Though Cherkesov claims he shot randomly and wildly into the melee whilst in fear of his life, the result was very accurate - 3 bullets hit Sviridov in the chest, one struck the back of his head, smashing half of it. .
In clear contrast to the reports of a 'random brawl between Russians and Caucasians', the scenario from witnesses seems to imply 8 men from the North Caucasus, some of whom were armed and many were clearly highly trained martial artists, attacked 5 unarmed Russians, leading to the tragic death of Sviridov. The alleged killer and his friends (with the exception of one) were then, astonishingly, released, leading to the bribery accusations. These aspects of the case have also led many to express doubt that the Caucasians 'fear for their lives' motivated the shooting.
It would later be said that only Aslan Cherkesov remained under arrest as the prime suspect of the murder (105 УК РФ). Others were not charged, and released even though they took part in the fighting, and the surviving victims were treated in the hospital. Almost 2 days later, a criminal case was opened (116 УК РФ).
OMON
forces were deployed to contain the situation. No confrontations were reported between the protesters and the militsiya
. After negotiations with the OMON
, the protesters cleared the avenue. According to General-Mayor of the militsiya
Vyacheslav Haustov (Вячеслав Хаустов) - Over 1000 people, members of various football clubs, participated in an unsanctioned demonstration. In the vicinity of "Aeroport" metro station negotiations took place between the fans and state forces. Militsiya
did not detain anyone.
Later, sources indicate that 20 protesters were detained, on charges of firing traumatic weapons and participating in an unsanctioned demonstration. They were released later that night.
Early in the day almost 10000 people came to the Vodny Stadion (Moscow Metro) station and from there preceded to Kronshtadt Bulevar, where Egor Sviridov was killed, to lay down flowers and light candles.
Around 15:00 the crowd started gathering at the Manezhnaya Square
, including members of several nationalistic organizations, soon becoming over 5.5 thousand strong. Sources indicate that as many as 50,000 people could have gathered.
As OMON
forces tried to control the situation, some protesters tried to breach the cordon on their way to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina
, resulting in fights between the parties. As OMON
forces started dispersing the crowd, hostilities escalated, and both sides sustained casualties. A total of some 65 people were arrested, and 29 hospitalized.
In Saint Petersburg
A similar event took place in St Petersburg. People started gathering on Pioneer Square (Пионерская площадь) and heading in the direction of Pushkinskaya Metro station (Пушкинская). Numbering close to 1000, the protesters were stopped by the OMON
forces. 60 people were arrested.
In Voronezh
At 19:00 about 350 people gathered by Tsentralnyi Profsoyuz Stadion
(Центральный стадион профсоюзов), the city's central arena, to mourn the death of Egor Sviridov. The crowd was approached by Alexander Panyukov , the healthy living and sport manager for the Voronezh region. To his question about the purpose of the gathering, the people expressed their intention to proceed to Lenin Square.
At that time, Sergey Pashnev , a colonel in the militsiya
, joined the conversation and together with Alexander Panyukov had suggested that the procession head to Victory Square instead.
The demonstration was conducted in a peaceful manner and was over by 20:00. Present militsiya
forces were not involved.
In Kaliningrad
80 young people had gather at the Russian Mother monument to lay flowers and light candles in memory of Egor Sviridov. The crowd was shouting "We won't forget, We won't forgive" . The presence of police forces was heavy. No confrontations were reported.
In Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Several dozen people arranged a protest in Kirov.
In Samara, Russia
Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to memory of Egor Sviridov. With posters and lit flares they marched though the city. Intervention from militsiya
forces was not required.
as crime with a major trend in Russian victims and immigrant perpetrators. There was, he claimed, a 79% increase on rapes in the last year alone
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
fan's death in a clash between two groups of youth, one of which was composed of recent migrants from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's North Caucasus
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
republics. The affair took place on December 6, 2010, at Kronstadt boulevard in the north of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Sviridov's death provoked a number of high-profile rallies and rioting in the capital as well as in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
and other cities across Russia.
Biography
Sviridov graduated high school № 1151 in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1999. In 2004, he graduated from Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute. From 2004 he worked as an engineer and surveyor. Egor Sviridov was a prominent member of Fratria
Fratria
Fratria is the largest organisation of FC Spartak Moscow supporters. It is responsible for organized voice and banner support during Spartak's matches both home and away.- Aims and Objectives :...
fan group of FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
Incident
Egor Sviridov participated in a fight that took place on December 6 at 00:30 hours, on a bus stop by 37 Kronshtadt Bulevar in Golovinsky district of Moscow.More than 10 people were involved in the conflict between fans of FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
and natives of the North Caucasus
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
. Most of them were released. This is what sparked much of the rage of the Spartak fans, the suspected killer and his friends were released and rumoured to have done so through bribing the police. It has now come to light that Aslan Cherkesov, who fired the bullets that killed Sviridov, was convicted in 2009 of grievous bodily harm and narcotic possession, which carry severe penalties in Russia. Despite this, he appears to have avoided jail, which has given further weight to the allegations of bribery and criminality. Further anger was caused by the fact that the killing mirrored that of journalist Yuri Volkov. Also a Spartak Moscow fan, Volkov and his friends were attacked by a gang of Chechen men in July 2010. The suspected killer was released by the police with no charge. Official statements said lack of evidence was the reason, but there were open claims that the police had been bribed by important members of the powerful Chechen diaspora.
Despite Cherkesov and his gang claiming to be acting in self defence, witnesses state that it was they who actually initiated the brawl, as well as outnumbering the Russian Spartak fans 8 to 5. Sviridov and his friends were by a bus stand, waiting for a taxi to arrive. The Russian men were laughing and joking amongst themselves when the Caucasian group, passing by, confronted them and accused them of laughing at them.
The Caucasian gang then launched a brutal attack. Not only did they outnumber Sviridov and his group, many of them also appeared to be trained wrestlers or cagefighters, and the Russian men who were not shot suffered serious injuries. Though Cherkesov claims he shot randomly and wildly into the melee whilst in fear of his life, the result was very accurate - 3 bullets hit Sviridov in the chest, one struck the back of his head, smashing half of it. .
In clear contrast to the reports of a 'random brawl between Russians and Caucasians', the scenario from witnesses seems to imply 8 men from the North Caucasus, some of whom were armed and many were clearly highly trained martial artists, attacked 5 unarmed Russians, leading to the tragic death of Sviridov. The alleged killer and his friends (with the exception of one) were then, astonishingly, released, leading to the bribery accusations. These aspects of the case have also led many to express doubt that the Caucasians 'fear for their lives' motivated the shooting.
December 7
Fellow fans and friends of Egor Sviridov blocked Leningradsky Avenue in an act of protest. According to the protesters, the cause of their outrage was the release of the detained killers of Egor Sviridov. They were headed in the direction of Golovinsk Prosecutor (Головинская Прокуратура) building, to investigate why the crime was being ignored. After not getting a desired response they blocked the avenue.It would later be said that only Aslan Cherkesov remained under arrest as the prime suspect of the murder (105 УК РФ). Others were not charged, and released even though they took part in the fighting, and the surviving victims were treated in the hospital. Almost 2 days later, a criminal case was opened (116 УК РФ).
OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
forces were deployed to contain the situation. No confrontations were reported between the protesters and the militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
. After negotiations with the OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
, the protesters cleared the avenue. According to General-Mayor of the militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
Vyacheslav Haustov (Вячеслав Хаустов) - Over 1000 people, members of various football clubs, participated in an unsanctioned demonstration. In the vicinity of "Aeroport" metro station negotiations took place between the fans and state forces. Militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
did not detain anyone.
Later, sources indicate that 20 protesters were detained, on charges of firing traumatic weapons and participating in an unsanctioned demonstration. They were released later that night.
December 11
In MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Early in the day almost 10000 people came to the Vodny Stadion (Moscow Metro) station and from there preceded to Kronshtadt Bulevar, where Egor Sviridov was killed, to lay down flowers and light candles.
Around 15:00 the crowd started gathering at the Manezhnaya Square
Manezhnaya Square
Manezhnaya Square, — the name of squares in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in Russia:* Manezhnaya Square, Moscow* Manezhnaya Square, Saint Petersburg...
, including members of several nationalistic organizations, soon becoming over 5.5 thousand strong. Sources indicate that as many as 50,000 people could have gathered.
As OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
forces tried to control the situation, some protesters tried to breach the cordon on their way to Biblioteka Imeni Lenina
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina
Biblioteka Imeni Lenina is a station on the Sokolnicheskaya Line of the Moscow Metro. The station was opened on May 15, 1935 as a part of the first stage of the Metro. It is situated in the very centre of the city under the Mokhovaya Street, and is named for the nearby Russian State Library...
, resulting in fights between the parties. As OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
forces started dispersing the crowd, hostilities escalated, and both sides sustained casualties. A total of some 65 people were arrested, and 29 hospitalized.
In Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
A similar event took place in St Petersburg. People started gathering on Pioneer Square (Пионерская площадь) and heading in the direction of Pushkinskaya Metro station (Пушкинская). Numbering close to 1000, the protesters were stopped by the OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
forces. 60 people were arrested.
In Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
At 19:00 about 350 people gathered by Tsentralnyi Profsoyuz Stadion
Tsentralnyi Profsoyuz Stadion
Tsentralnyi Profsoyuz Stadion is a multi-use stadium in Voronezh, Russia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 31,743 people. The stadium was built in 1927....
(Центральный стадион профсоюзов), the city's central arena, to mourn the death of Egor Sviridov. The crowd was approached by Alexander Panyukov , the healthy living and sport manager for the Voronezh region. To his question about the purpose of the gathering, the people expressed their intention to proceed to Lenin Square.
At that time, Sergey Pashnev , a colonel in the militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
, joined the conversation and together with Alexander Panyukov had suggested that the procession head to Victory Square instead.
The demonstration was conducted in a peaceful manner and was over by 20:00. Present militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
forces were not involved.
In Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad
Kaliningrad is a seaport and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea...
80 young people had gather at the Russian Mother monument to lay flowers and light candles in memory of Egor Sviridov. The crowd was shouting "We won't forget, We won't forgive" . The presence of police forces was heavy. No confrontations were reported.
In Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Kirov , formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in northeastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast. Population: -History:...
Several dozen people arranged a protest in Kirov.
In Samara, Russia
Samara, Russia
Samara , is the sixth largest city in Russia. It is situated in the southeastern part of European Russia at the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers. Samara is the administrative center of Samara Oblast. Population: . The metropolitan area of Samara-Tolyatti-Syzran within Samara Oblast...
Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to memory of Egor Sviridov. With posters and lit flares they marched though the city. Intervention from militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
forces was not required.
Sociopolitical Issues
Sviridov's death heightened racial tensions between nationalist Slavic groups and ethnic citizens of Russian Federation from the North Caucasus. Despite racist crimes committed by ethnic Russians on minorities getting worldwide media coverage, crimes committed by immigrants on ethnic Russians, which far outnumber the reverse, get little coverage outside Russia. Moscow's chief of police, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, recently attributed up to 70% of crimes in Moscow to minorities such as Central Asians and North Caucasians. He singled out rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
as crime with a major trend in Russian victims and immigrant perpetrators. There was, he claimed, a 79% increase on rapes in the last year alone
External links
- http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=413253&tid=86293Riots in Moscow 2010-11-06 (Russia 24VestiRussia 24 is a VGTRK-owned international and national Russian-language news channel from Russia. It covers major national and international events with a Russian perspective and a focus on domestic issues....
)]